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KCEE
Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy

The Kendrick Center’s mission is to promote prosperity and human flourishing in the Mountain State through ethics and economics education, research, and outreach.

The Kendrick Center

Founded in 2022 with a generous donation from Ken and Randy Kendrick, the Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy creates value for West Virginians by deepening existing ethics and economics education through the following projects:

  • Kendrick Educators Program supports West Virginia teachers to pursue a Masters of Science in Economics degree at West Virginia University with the goal of providing an economist to every community across the State.

  • Kendrick Fellows Program identifies talented West Virginia University undergraduate students, provides them a world-class education in ethics and economics, and incentivizes them to contribute in the Mountain State after graduation. 

  • Economics 201 Program provides scholarships for West Virginia high school students to take ECON 201 at West Virginia University while still enrolled in high school. 


The Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy is breaking new ground in what business ethics means in a business college. The Kendrick Center supports multiple new faculty hires, all of which elevate the research, teaching, and outreach mission of the Chambers College of Business and Economics and West Virginia University. 


Read more about the transformative partnership here: 

Kendrick Educators Program

The Kendrick Educators Program increases capacity and outreach in ethics and economics education statewide by investing in West Virginia educators.
The program offers scholarships to educators for WVU's Master of Science in Economics program, creates summer workshop opportunities focused on ethics and economics education for teachers, and recruits mentor teachers to support Kendrick Educators.

  • The Ethics and Econ Summer Program runs for four and half days days beginning with a dinner reception on Sunday evening and with daily sessions finishing on Thursday afternoon. We offer accommodations, meals, and a generous stipend.
  • All inquiries from this point forward will be considered for the Summer 2025 Workshop. We have tentatively selected June 15-19 for the workshop and June 22-26 for the in-person portions of the scheduled graduate courses.
Learn more about the Summer Workshop

  • The MS Economics scholarship application process requires participation in the face-to-face summer program. Teachers have the opportunity to return each summer to the workshop space to continue their studies with summer course offering and as mentors. Contact Nina Han with any MS Economics scholarship questions.
Learn more about MS Economics

“The Kendrick Center allows us to build upon our charge as faculty to instill excellence, innovation, and ethics in our work, and it is an honor to partner with them to activate this gift that will serve our students and land-grant mission in transformative ways.”

 Cathleen Johnson, Assistant Professor of Economics and Kendrick Chair of Economics

Kendrick Fellows Program

The Kendrick Fellows Program identifies talented undergraduate students at West Virginia University, gives them a world-class education in ethics and economics, highlights opportunities the Mountain State has to offer, and incentivizes them to stay and contribute to the State after graduation.

Students of any major may apply, if eligible.

Kendrick Fellows ramp up their WVU experience with

  • Access to the new Business Ethics and Prosperity minor, featuring small class sizes taught by world-class faculty in ethics and economics. All classes in the minor count as honors classes for those in the Honors College. 
  • Early high-powered internships across the state supported with matchmaking and coaching services.
  • Active discovery trips across West Virginia to explore the Mountain State and meet engaged entrepreneurs and decision makers.
  • A performance bonus of $20,000 after successfully completing the program followed by living and working in West Virginia for two years after graduation. Those attending graduate school can request an extension.

Eligibility

  • Must be a graduate from a West Virginia high school or have been homeschooled for at least the senior year in West Virginia.
  • Must be a currently enrolled WVU student with five semesters available to complete the Business Ethics and Prosperity minor coursework.
  • Must have either a 3.5 GPA at WVU or a 3.5 high school GPA; however, those who apply based on high school GPA must demonstrate a 3.5 WVU GPA before they are fully admitted.

Application

  • If you meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in becoming a Kendrick Fellow, please submit the requested information using the KCEE Fellows Candidacy Form.
  • After submitting a KCEE Fellows Candidacy Form, if eligible, you will receive an official Kendrick Fellowship Application.
  • Applications are reviewed on a biannual basis on October 1 and March 1. You will be notified of admissions shortly after the deadline for which you apply.
KCEE Fellows Candidacy Form


“The Kendricks’ focus on economic and financial literacy and keeping our top students in the state will not only benefit the individuals in these three programs, but West Virginia as a whole. This revolutionary gift touches on all aspects of our mission, from building business leaders of tomorrow, to catalyzing interdisciplinary solutions that advance economic growth in West Virginia and beyond.”


Joshua Hall, Milan Puskar Dean

ECON 201 Program

Enrollment in Economics 201, Principles of Microeconomics, is now free for West Virginia high school students to increase economic and financial literacy, encourage students interested in higher education to broaden their studies, and help retain and invest in homegrown talent. 

  • To qualify for an ECON 201 scholarship, student must be a current high school or homeschooled West Virginian Sophomore, Junior, or Senior student with a 3.0 GPA or higher.

  • Application Information

    All students must apply from the WVU High School ACCESS website during the posted application period each semester.

  • Email the Program Coordinator at accesswvu@mail.wvu.edu

Reynolds Hall, costructed of brick and glass windows, with a bright blue sky behind.

Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy Team

chris friedman

Chris Freiman

Political Philosopher
Director of Outreach

Cathleen A. Johnson

Cathleen A. Johnson

Economist
Center Director
Kendrick Chair of Economics

Michael Hardt

Michael Hardt

Psychometrician
Director of Assessment

Brian Kogelmann

Brian Kogelmann

Social Philosopher and Political Economist
Academic Director

Siobhain Lash

Siobhain Lash

Business and Environmental Ethicist
Research Fellow

Contact Us: KCEE@mail.wvu.edu