News

A leadership gift to West Virginia University from longtime supporters Ken and Randy Kendrick will allow the John Chambers College of Business and Economics to transform economics education through innovative programs for high-schoolers and educators statewide via the new Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy.

The $40 million partnership with the Kendricks complements broader efforts to make WVU a purpose-driven leader in higher education. Over the next 10 years, WVU will dedicate approximately $20 million – including repurposed funds, in-kind support and new investments – to the project, while the Kendricks will contribute $20 million over that same time period, making their commitment one of the largest gifts in the history of the Chambers College.

I chuckle when I hear from others that they could never ask someone for money, or that my job is difficult.

Whether I am at the college or out with a donor, I spend my days with people who want to make our world, our state, and individual lives better. I operate in a sacred space that brings together the people who want to use their resources to positively impact others and the boots on the ground doing that good work. 

Six business students at West Virginia University's John Chambers College of Business and Economics will one day be able to tell their grandkids that they were one of the first students to get a first look inside of Reynolds Hall. 

Our new building will enhance the educational and teaching model, and significantly enhance the student experience. 

At a U.S. Army base command center, a computer beeps and displays a warning: the power has gone down in one corner of the base. Cybersecurity experts jump into action. They ensure critical systems are on backup generators as they search for the reason for the outage. One of them points to her screen and calls out that the power grid’s information system has been compromised—a cyber attack is likely underway.

Their professor applauds.

Our faculty and staff are always doing amazing things. View the latest Department Digest to see what they have been up to and catch what they’re saying in the media. 

West Virginia University has released its Fall 2021 Dean’s and President’s lists, as well as the list of graduates for the fall semester.

A total of 6,612 students earned honors during the fall semester.

The Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative continues to build momentum one year after  the couple’s transformational $25 million gift to  West Virginia University. The namesake office the Smiths created is starting to see momentum from a concept the Smiths have instilled in the team— the flywheel effect where constant effort compounds until movement forward is second nature.

Brad D. and Alys Smith’s gift to advance the state’s economy by cultivating talent, developing world-class recreational infrastructure, supporting community development around the state and expanding outdoor educational opportunities is the center point for this effect.

There is something special about December Commencement.  

The holiday season is in the air and everything our students have worked for comes down to this moment: graduation.

2021 brought us back to campus and the classroom as we continued to support our mission to serve our students and state (safely) through the unpredictable track of COVID-19. The Chambers College team pressed forward with adaptability, acquiring new initiatives for the future and preparing for a changed world that will require us to innovate and adapt on our feet.

Here are a few of our proudest moments.

Dear Chambers College Students, Faculty, Staff, and Friends:

As the end of 2021 approaches, I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for every one of you as a person and for what you bring to the John Chambers College of Business and Economics community.