News

Gov. Jim Justice joined leaders with DataRobot, the leader in Augmented Intelligence, at a ceremony today to announce that the company is opening an office in Vantage Ventures in Morgantown. The new office will further the company’s mission to democratize AI through expanded hiring in software engineering, professional services, and customer support.

In addition to opening office space and hiring locally, DataRobot and  West Virginia University are beginning to work together on the formation of a national center, based in West Virginia, that will provide technologically-focused solutions on critical pandemic and emergency response and preparedness and rural health.

Four eminent West Virginia University alumni were appointed to serve the WVU Alumni Association Board of Directors at its fourth quarterly meeting on Friday, June 4. Kamau Brown, Gabrielle St. Léger, Nesha Sanghavi and Monté Williams have been selected to serve six-year terms.

During the meeting, the board also elected Todd Mount of Charleston to his first term as chair; Darren Feeley of Falls Church, Virginia, as vice chair; Tracy Schoenadel of Stamford, Connecticut, as secretary; and Greg Darby of Beckley as treasurer.

Professor of Management Ed Tomlinson and Associate Professor of Accounting Kip Holderness had their research paper, "Adding fuel to the fire: How non-contingent bonuses relate to entitlement and affect pursuit of worker self-interest” accepted for publication in the Journal of Forensic Accounting Research, which is an A-level journal on the Accounting department list. They partnered with Utah Valley Associate Professor of Accounting Kari Olsen on their paper.

Associate Professor of Management Xiaoxiao Hu had her research paper, “Thinking about thinking about work: A meta-analysis of off-job positive and negative work-related thoughts” accepted for publication in the Journal of Business and Psychology, which is an A-level journal in management.

I hope that everyone is well and looking forward to a better 2021, with the hardships of the pandemic hopefully receding into the background for you and your families.

It has been a challenging year for us all, including for our graduate students, faculty and staff. Diamonds are made under pressure, and these challenges have allowed us to shine with the depth and caliber of our graduate offerings in the online space. I am incredibly thankful to the faculty, staff and students who delivered with enthusiasm, professionalism and energy over the last year. Some of our points of pride include:

Four West Virginia University women have been awarded the Critical Language Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State, recognizing their commitment to language learning and personal growth. The awardees will participate in fully-funded virtual intensive language and cultural immersion programs this summer.

Valerie Browne, a rising senior from Martinsburg, will spend this summer studying Russian. Browne is a Russian studies and English double major with a minor in political science in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.  

(Editor’s note: A comprehensive  photo gallery is available and will be updated with additional images.) 

Following a year of missed milestones, celebrations and traditions,  West Virginia University’s first in-person commencement ceremony since December 2019 ushered in a renewed sense of optimism for the nearly 4,500 graduates who walked across the stage to receive their diplomas in four ceremonies this weekend (May 15-16).

In Fall 2017, West Virginia University freshmen entered Milan Puskar Stadium for the traditional “Monday Night Lights” event during Welcome Week to form our state’s outline in the middle of the field.

On Sunday, May 16, our 2021 graduating class is the first group to end their college career where it all started. 

West Virginia youths feel pretty passionate about their communities. And they are improving their hometowns by developing ideas and opportunities to make their communities even “cooler.”

Through the “My Hometown is Cool!” competition, four teams from four West Virginia counties – Greenbrier, Marshall, McDowell and Nicholas – will have an opportunity to implement their innovative ideas to make their towns cooler. WVU Extension Service and WVU Chambers College of Business & Economics have created a statewide initiative aimed at increasing youth voices in community development.

An international student who has immersed himself in the “cultural heartbeat” of his new community, a first-generation student graduating with a cumulative 4.0 grade-point average who had no access to high school college-prep courses and a Black woman who aspires to bridge the gap between research and clinical care to improve health disparities are among the graduating seniors to receive West Virginia University’s highest student honor, the Order of Augusta. 

These eight students are among 50 named WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors. 

The Chambers College team is doing big things, and we want to know about them! Share through this form to see them in a future edition of Let’s Talk Business and/or our other communications vehicles. Want to recognize your colleagues for their accomplishments? Click here .

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