Marshall Health, a member of Marshall Health Network, welcomes ophthalmologist Raymond V. Mecca, M.D., and optometrist Scott J. Henry, O.D., to its team of eye care specialists.
Mecca has more than 49 years of experience as an ophthalmologist in Ashland, Kentucky. He offers comprehensive eye care services, including evaluations for diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease, Sjogren’s Syndrome, macular degeneration, hypertension and Plaquenil eye exams, along with diagnostic testing. He also handles ocular emergencies. Outside of work, he enjoys restoring classic cars, doing mechanical work such as rebuilding ocular instruments, and sailing. Mecca earned his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, followed by an ophthalmology residency at the University of Missouri at Kansas City in Missouri.
Henry is a lifelong resident of West Virginia, practicing in the Charleston, Huntington and Ashland areas for more than 29 years working with general ophthalmologists and glaucoma and corneal specialists. Henry conducts general eye health examinations to screen for conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and hypertension, including Plaquenil eye exams. Additionally, he diagnoses, treats and manages a variety of eye diseases and injuries. Henry earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee.
Both doctors also perform visual field tests and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans, which detect diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.… Read More
Marshall University along with BridgeValley Community and Technical College have been awarded a joint grant of $50,000 with the focus of creating a study abroad consortium for Marshall and BridgeValley students. It’s one of 37 grants awarded this year that will help establish, expand and broaden American student mobility overseas in support of U.S. foreign policy goals.
The unique program will expand educational opportunities abroad for West Virginia students, with a special focus in the STEM Fields. The project will establish a faculty-led study abroad program in Ireland for both Marshall and BridgeValley, set to take place in the summer of 2025. The initiative will increase the capacity for both schools, but also pave the way for more innovative study abroad programs in the future.
The consortium’s primary goal is to enhance access to short-term study abroad programs and bolster the education abroad support system at Marshall and BridgeValley. The principal investigator on the grant, is Dr. Zelideth Maria Rivas, assistant provost for global education, in the academic affairs office.
“Marshall University is excited to enter into this study abroad partnership with BridgeValley,” Rivas said. “While
… Read More
Marshall University’s Forensic Science Center’s DNA Laboratory has been recognized as one of world’s premier labs after receiving the Maximus Award from the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD).
The prestigious award is given to labs in recognition of their organizational structure and efficiency.
Dr. Laura Kuyper is director of the center and says it is an incredible honor to receive the Maximus Award.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication and excellence of our team at the Marshall University Forensic Science Center,” Kuyper said. “Our commitment to advancing forensic science and providing top-notch service to our community and beyond has always been our driving force. This award not only acknowledges our past achievements but also inspires us to continue striving for innovation and excellence in forensic research and education.”
Kuyper credited Eric Miller and others on the forensics team for their work that led to the recognition.
The award is part of Project FORESIGHT, developed some 15 years ago by a group of West Virginia University (WVU) researchers with expertise in the quality science of the criminal justice system, including Paul Speaker, who is the Fred T. Tattersall Distinguished Chair of Finance and a professor of finance in the John T. Chambers School of Business. … Read More
Marshall University has announced a gift of $2 million from alumnus and current Board of Governors member Jim Smith and his wife Pam Kushmerick to support the second cohort of Marshall For All students for the fall of 2024.
Smith and Kushmerick donated $2 million in March of 2023 to help fund the inaugural cohort of Marshall For All students in the fall of 2023.
The gift was announced during Marshall’s Board of Governors meeting on June 12. President Brad D. Smith said gifts such as these are essential to the success of Marshall For All.
“Jim and Pam are changing lives and writing history with their incredible gifts to our institution,” Smith said. “They are helping the next generation create their own Marshall moments.”
The Marshall For All program allows Marshall students to combine scholarships, grants, work opportunities and family contributions to earn their bachelor’s degree without needing student loans, which will allow students to graduate with little to no debt. To qualify, students will need to complete a FAFSA annually and commit to actions such as graduating on time, pursuing work opportunities and participating in financial literacy programs.
The program, announced by Marshall University President Brad D. Smith in 2022, launched last fall with new first-year West Virginians and metro area students with great success. The university will expand the program over the next decade with the goal of relieving student debt for all Marshall students by 2037.… Read More
It has stood for decades as a memorial to those lost in a devastating plane crash, provided the promise of new life to generations of students and community members and is now being considered for inclusion on the U.S. Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.
Marshall University’s Memorial Fountain, created in memory of the 75 individuals lost in the 1970 Marshall University plane crash and officially dedicated in 1972, was nominated for the significant designation by the West Virginia State Archives and History Commission during a meeting today on Marshall’s Huntington campus. The nomination now goes to the National Park Service for review. It’s anticipated the formal decision will take approximately 45 days.
The inclusion of the fountain on the National Register would formally acknowledge its historical and cultural importance, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Marshall University President Brad D. Smith attended today’s meeting.
“The possible inclusion of the Memorial Fountain on the National Register of Historic Places reaffirms its significance as more than just a monument,” Smith said. “Adversity can lead to an excuse, or it can lead to a reason. The Memorial Fountain is a symbol of our reason, a space where we gather to remember, reflect, and find strength in our community’s resilience.”
Smith thanked members of the commission for their effort on seeing the nomination to completion. … Read More
Marshall University Board of Governors, meeting today in regular session, approved two new degree programs, updated several student conduct policies and discussed implementation of the upcoming campus carry bill, in addition to granting President Brad D. Smith consent to execute contract extensions for two Marshall coaches.
The new degree programs include a bachelor’s degree in specialty agriculture, which is expected to appeal to students in a 100-mile radius of Huntington who may have an interest in the field but are unlikely to travel to larger agriculture schools. The program will cover traditional and sustainable agricultural sciences and emphasize new and emerging technologies for high-yield and specialty agriculture that will improve agribusiness outcomes for smaller farms in the region.
In addition to approving the specialty agriculture degree, board members also approved a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, augmenting the existing Bachelor of Arts degree. The proposed program combines traditional political science studies with a strong emphasis on statistical analysis, data-driven decision-making, and empirical research methods.
The board approved student conduct policy updates including addressing tuition and fees refunds, student research and revising the weapons policy. The updates will be up for community review at www.marshall.edu/policies/ … Read More
The Marshall University Foundation has announced the establishment of the D. Shawn Wheeler Aviation Scholarship. This scholarship is generously endowed by the family of D. Shawn Wheeler in his memory.
Wheeler was born in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1964, to C. David Wheeler and Karen S. Wheeler. He graduated from Charleston High School and West Virginia State University with a degree in accounting. He then attended West Virginia University College of Law.
At an early age, Wheeler fell in love with aviation and started working at Eagle Aviation at West Virginia International Yeager Airport at the age of 14 in 1979. He obtained his private pilot’s license, became instrument rated and earned his twin-engine license. He loved flying his Beechcraft Baron G58 and treasured his airport community, including his pilot friends Jarrell Ryan and Colonel Bill Peters. This scholarship was established to honor him and his love of aviation.
The scholarship recipient will be a full-time student in the Bill Noe Flight School who is a West Virginia resident with a 3.0 GPA or higher and has financial need per the standards of the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
The award will be renewable for up to four years, or eight semesters. The director of the Division of Aviation, or their designee, will select the recipient and renew the award in cooperation with the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
For information regarding the D. Shawn Wheeler Aviation Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.… Read More
The Marshall University Research Corporation has announced the winners of the Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 Undergraduate Creative Discovery & Research program, as well as the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 John Marshall Scholars Award Program.
The experience is open to qualifying students in the College of Science (COS), the Lewis College of Business (COB), the College of Liberal Arts (COLA), the College of Arts and Media (CAM), the College of Education and Professional Development (COEPD), the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences (CECS), the College of Health Professions (COHP) and the Honors College.
Summer 2024 awardees are:
· Carissa Alves (COHP) — Achilles Tendon Research Project
· Cecelia Burke (COLA) — Loaded discourse: Analyzing attitudes towards campus carry laws in West Virginia through a critical discourse analysis of social media
· Abbi Carney (Honors) — Memoirs from the Mountains: Challenging Stereotypes Through Authentic Appalachian Narratives
· Alexandria Chapman (COS) — The Role of HDAC3 in HSP90 – Mediates Multidrug-Resistance in Lung Cancer Cells
· Andrew D’Arms (CECS) —Timely Measuring of Earthquake Effects on Infrastructures
· Morgan Napier (CAM) — The Appalachian Perspective
· Colby Perry (CECS) — Effects of Eye Tracking in VR Active Shooting Training
· Josh Perry (CAM) — An Adaptable Ceramics Practice for Disabled Artst
· Sebastian Risch (CECS) — Effect of Electrical Stimulation on Neuronal Growth in PCL/Graphene Composite Nanoscaffold
· Abigail Roberts (COS) — Development of a Generalized Coupling Reaction to Synthesize Oligorylenes… Read More
The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine will host the region’s most unique outdoor dining experience, Standing Out in Our Field, Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Barboursville Soccer Complex.
The annual medical student scholarship fundraiser draws hundreds for a picturesque, fun-filled evening under the stars. Presented by Dean’s Circle sponsor Marshall Health Network, this year’s event features a “Boots and Bling” theme. Festivities kick off with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by an evening of dinner & dancing from 7 to 11 p.m., accompanied by the vibrant tunes of the band, Santa Cruz.
“Standing Out in Our Field has become the annual go-to event for those who enjoy a laid back, yet purposeful gathering,” said Linda S. Holmes, director of development and alumni affairs at the medical school. “Under the tent, guests will don their country glam for a fun-filled evening with plenty of ambiance, amazing food and music to go around.”
All proceeds from the annual event provide vital support for medical student scholarships. This year, event co-chairs, Dr. Adam (’99) and Emily Franks, have set a goal to raise $175,000 for the school’s scholarship endowment.… Read More
Marshall University will host a ceremonial groundbreaking to mark the start of renovations on an expanded facility to house a food pantry and thrift store on the university’s Huntington campus. The event is slated for 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, at 1802 6th Ave.
Previously, the food pantry and thrift store were housed in separate locations, but with proposed renovations, the facility will expand to 3,083 square feet, which is more than quadruple the square footage of the existing facilities.
Walker Tatum, who served as student body president for the 2023-2024 academic year and is now employed as the director of alumni engagement with the Marshall University Foundation, says the idea came at the start of his SGA term with Callia Yang, who served alongside him as student body vice president.
“We started hearing about food insecurity and from there, cultivated a survey for students addressing the issue,” said Tatum. “The submissions were eye-opening. We knew we needed to take the opportunity to voice their concerns. The support of President Brad D. Smith and his office was overwhelming. We benchmarked other peer institutions and researched as much as we could. All of that led to a comprehensive plan moving forward to combine both.”
Tatum says the project has significant importance to him, and he is happy to continue to be part of the positive change for students.… Read More
Marshall University’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (iCenter) has named three faculty members, Kacy Lovelace, Sarah Mollette and Dr. Laura Stapleton, as the university’s first Innovation Catalysts.
The Marshall University Innovation Catalyst (MUIC) program is a first-of-its-kind program in higher education aimed at training the education community in design thinking, an approach to solving complex, human-centered problems. The goal of the innovation catalyst program is to advance Marshall for All, Marshall Forever’s strategic priorities of improving student achievement, affordability and flexibility, as well as ultimately become the most agile institution in higher education in terms of responding to students’ changing needs.
The MUIC Program offers four levels of training, three of which are aimed at faculty and staff and one tailored to administrative leaders. During the spring semester of 2024, Lovelace, an assistant professor and research student success librarian, Mollette, an associate professor and research and online learning librarian, along with Stapleton, assistant professor of mathematics, engaged in intensive training at the highest level, known as Innovation Catalyst training.
The MUIC program is modeled after the Innovation Catalyst program at Intuit, a leading financial technology firm that is widely recognized as one of the most innovative organizations in the world. Marshall’s Innovation Catalyst trainees learn Intuit’s specific version of design thinking known as Design for Delight (D4D). … Read More
Marshall University, in collaboration with West Virginia University and Florida International University, is working on developing an advanced curricula that will educate the next generation in artificial intelligence and build on the foundation of artificial intelligence (AI) research.
Funding for the work was made available through a $4.9 million federal grant of which Marshall received a $1.25 million sub award. The collaboration among the three institutions will yield critical materials for AI cybersecurity readiness and is part of a larger partnership that received funding in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“Marshall’s initiative will incorporate explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) into training programs to enhance transparency and trust in AI systems,” said David Dampier, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences. “This integration will equip future professionals with the skills needed to identify and mitigate potential risks, ensuring they can navigate the complex landscape of AI-driven security challenges.”
Haroon Malik, associate professor of computer sciences, is the principal investigator for the Marshall project and says the development puts the university at the forefront of AI education.
“These courses will provide a robust foundation in adversarial explainable AI (AdvCAI) and robust AI for intelligent systems and control,” Malik said. “These courses will also address high-assurance Department of Defense (DoD) applications by teaching students to estimate the reliability and trustworthiness of AI models.” … Read More
