For Marshall University alumnus Christian Perez, his journey toward a career in finance began when he was 15, influenced by his best friend, Isaac McNeely. Isaac would show up to high school at 6 a.m. to shoot around before the school day started to train towards his goal of becoming a Division I athlete. Motivated by Isaac’s success, Christian was inspired to find is own path—ultimately leading him to graduate from Marshall at age 19.
Watching Isaac’s dedication to basketball, Christian was inspired to find his own path. Christian tried out for the high school basketball and baseball teams but was cut from both. His mother encouraged him to find something productive to do, leading him to work at Rocas Mexican Grill in Cross Lanes, West Virginia.
Working at the restaurant was a pivotal experience for Christian—it instilled in him a strong work ethic and introduced him to the world of finance. One night, he overheard customers discussing dividends and it piqued his interest. This marked the beginning of his passion for finance.
His commitment to his job and his studies set him apart, and he began taking dual credit classes through Marshall’s Herd Academy to graduate from college ahead of schedule. By the time he graduated from high school, he completed a year’s worth of college credits.
His hard work paid off when he secured an internship at City National Bank at the age of 18. Christian impressed his employers with his knowledge and dedication.… Read More
For Alyssa Lilly, a dedicated student at Marshall, the university has become more than just a place of learning — it’s a home where dreams are cultivated.
Lilly’s journey extends beyond the campus grounds into the heart of West Virginia’s fairs and festivals. With a rich background in participating in local pageantry, Lilly’s involvement spans prestigious titles such as Miss Appalachian Festival, Miss Bridge Day, and WV Oil & Gas Festival Queen. These experiences led her to the state competition held in Charleston, West Virginia, where she competed with over 80 other representatives vying for the prestigious title of Miss West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals. She emerged victorious this past January, capturing the title of 2024 Miss West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals.
As Lilly embarks on her journey as Miss West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals, she reflects on the profound impact of her experiences at Marshall University.
“Marshall has provided me with numerous leadership positions that have improved my confidence and public speaking abilities,” she says.
Lilly’s involvement reflects her deep connection to the state’s culture and community.
“The sense of community within our state is what makes West Virginia’s fairs and festivals so unique,” she emphasizes.
Through her reign, she hopes to promote literacy and the importance of speech and language skills, touching the lives of children across the state.… Read More
When Dr. Laura Michele Diener arrived on Marshall’s campus in 2008, only two courses in her subject area existed.
As she began teaching, Diener developed more courses in her subject area and what she thought would appeal to her students.
Then, Diener began asking for student input: What do they want to learn about? What area of history interests them?
“I developed History 218 (Ancient Egypt) especially because of so many student requests, finding a new academic love of my own in the treasures of the Nile,” Diener said.
In addition to traditional lectures, Diener engages with her students using a teaching approach dubbed active learning—where students actively participate in the content they learn.
She said parenting her own children impacts her teaching philosophy.
“I am not a parent in the classroom; I am a teacher, but some strategies can work both ways. I always listen to my children, so I have tried to listen to my students more.”
One of those forms of active learning Diener implements is by
offering immersive experiences for her students.
Students in Diener’s courses can expect to recreate an Egyptian perfume or a Viking meat pie.… Read More
