News

As with any great team effort, there is usually a story behind the story. The announcement earlier this month of a $25-30 million project to plan and build a state-of-the-art aquatic and track complex at Mylan Park in Morgantown has such a story, one that has the fingerprints of WVU’s business school.

B&E’s December commencement will include nine Camp Dawson graduates in the online Executive MBA program at West Virginia's College of Business and Economics, a program widely known as one of the Best Online Program for Veterans by the U.S. News & World Report. 

The City of Fairmont was once widely recognized as one of the best economies in the state of West Virginia. In recent years, the city has realized a decline in its economy and the job market, and recognizes the urgency to initiate a community revitalization program.

“There is this old saying, ‘Be kinder than you need to because you never know what people are carrying with them.’ And I think that is very true. You never know what burdens people are carrying with them, and so I try to follow the philosophy of being as kind as possible,” Tina Bigalke, Vice President of HR Global Operations, Global Procurement & R&D at PepsiCo, said about advice she gives gives to students today. 

A student from the College of Business and Economics has taken West Virginia University’s Homecoming King crown for the second year in a row.

The Robbins Center for Global Business and Strategy has been one of the “best kept secrets” at B&E for its three years of existence. 

“Not for long,” said David Dawley, associate professor of management and industrial relations, and the new director for the Robbins Center. “I’m here to make sure of that.”

In the first year, the group, comprised of individuals under the age of 45, has grown to 121 young alumni members hailing from 20 states, 49 cities and two countries.

“In the College of B&E, we understand that so many of our young alumni are succeeding in their careers and they value a sense of engagement,” said Bonnie Anderson, director of alumni relations and assistant director of development at WVU’s business school. “We wanted this Young Professional Network to be a channel for these young, accomplished alumni to give back to their alma mater, and also be a part of an exclusive network of successful B&E graduates.” 

Mark Gavin, who is not new to the College of Business and Economics in any way, took on the new role in the spring 2015 semester of associate dean for Graduate Programs and Research Impact, as well as being a professor of management. 

Gavin now oversees Graduate Programs entirely, which encompasses each master’s program as well as doctorate programs. Gavin also maintains responsibility for the research agenda for the college, facilitating faculty research while keeping focused on the teaching and program delivery that has been such an important part of B&E’s mission.

A degree – even working toward a degree – can drive a person’s career in unexpected directions. Tim Mason, a 2015 graduate of the College of Business and Economics online Executive MBA  program, learned just that as he forged his way from a foreman in the coalmines to director of operations of the northern region for Extreme Plastics Plus.