News

The West Virginia Business Hall of Fame has chosen three accomplished leaders in adventure tourism, insurance and human resources as inductees into its 2024 class:

The close of a semester brings the commencement of another class of future business leaders. 

On Saturday, May 11, the Chambers College awarded diplomas to 705 students - 551 undergraduates and 154 graduate students - each becoming part of the fabric of the Chambers College in their journeys to and through West Virginia University. 

In April 2024, a team of West Virginia University students participated in one of the world’s premier cybersecurity competitions, held for the first time on WVU’s campus. 

Locked Shields, now in its fourth year, is an exercise created by NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, with participation from over 40 nations. The competition sees "Blue Teams” from around the world defend computer networks against real-time intrusions from “Red Teams." 2024 marks WVU’s fourth time participating in Locked Shields, and its first time hosting the United States’ Blue Team operations. 

“I’ve always liked math,” said Claire Ullom. “My dad said, ‘You’re a great people person. I really think if you enjoy math and are good with people, you should consider accounting.’”

That conversation marked the beginning of Ullom’s accounting journey. Her journey isn’t over yet, though – five years later, Ullom has notched an undergraduate degree, an internship and a job offer with a Big Four accounting firm. Soon, she’ll have a graduate degree to go along with the rest of it.

On Thursday, April 4, the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University honored nine inspiring alumni who have positively shaped the business landscape of their fields at various stages of their careers. This is the 13th annual alumni awards ceremony for the Chambers College.

The Roll of Distinguished Alumni was launched in 2011 to honor the College’s 60th anniversary. The ceremony was expanded last year to include a category to recognize early career inductees.

As an accounting student at WVU, I’ve had support from a number of faculty since the beginning of my time in the Chambers College. From mentorships to job opportunities, the WVU Accounting department fully prepares its students for their unique career paths.

Like most first-year students, I started my college career not knowing where I was going to end up. However, through the years, my professors provided information about employer events, career fairs and various student organizations to join that would help me find my path. At the beginning or end of class, they will often talk about their experience in the industry. These conversations sometimes focus on the Big 4 accounting firms – Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PwC and KPMG – where many WVU Accounting students are employed.

Hello, fellow dreamers and entrepreneurs! My name is Calijah Burton. I’m a senior majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics.

As I draw closer to launching my business, Burton’s Bakery, after graduation this May, I want to share some invaluable lessons and insights I've gained during my time at WVU.

When you think your education’s over, it might only just be starting.

No one knows that better than Amber Pickett, a doctor of audiology who decided to pursue her business data analytics graduate degree at the Chambers College. The catch: she’s also a mother and military spouse living on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Learning extends beyond the walls of the classroom. A strong education requires an integration of both experiential and classroom learning options. I was honored to participate in a one-of-a-kind experiential learning opportunity during the 2024 New York Fashion Week! I felt very well prepared to take on this journey, and I returned with an overwhelming amount of knowledge to apply in the classroom.

I was selected to represent West Virginia University at U of NYFW, a program for college students interested in learning more about Fashion Week, thanks to WVU's Brand and Trademark Licensing department. 27 students and 18 universities took on New York City with one common interest: a love for fashion and retail.

Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina – Christy Knight currently resides in Stokesdale, North Carolina close to her three sons, but now that they are grown, she’s very open to new opportunities.  

Christy Knight shares her journey and experiences that led to finding her passion in accounting and the dream to teach. The Chambers College’s Fully-Online Doctorate of Business Administration program helped her to turn her dream into a reality. Read her full story below and learn about our DBA program where you can specialize in accounting, economics, management, or marketing.