RecFest, one of Marshall University’s largest and most spirited welcome events, returns from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Marshall Recreation Center.
The event is a high-energy celebration that occurs during Marshall’s Week of Welcome, which helps new and returning students explore resources, build connections and feel at home as part of the Marshall family. It features more than 100 vendors offering free samples, interactive games, giveaways, music and food. Read More
Marshall University’s June Harless Center is partnering to host a series of activities in August to raise funds and awareness about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, which provides free books monthly to children up to the age of 5.
Saturday, Aug. 9, is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Day in West Virginia, as proclaimed by former Gov. Jim Justice in 2022. Since then, the state has hosted a week-long celebration annually, including Dolly Read Aloud Week events that feature a selected Imagination Library book for families and children to enjoy and foster a love of reading.
“We are building a brighter future for our children through early literacy,” said Jamie Lima, state director of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. “Dolly Week is a way to promote awareness statewide and raise funds for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, which has such depth and positive impact with measured results after nearly two decades in West Virginia.”
The week culminates with the Dolly Dash 5K Race for Reading, the largest annual fundraiser for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of WV, held on the Saturday during Dolly Week at Ritter Park in Huntington.
Earlier in the week, Marshall University’s June Harless Center will host a read aloud event at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the Memorial Fountain on Marshall’s campus. This event is open to the public. Children who attend will receive a free book and will be able to participate in a variety of fun, kid-friendly activities.… Read More
The West Virginia Behavioral Health Training Center, a project of Marshall University’s Center of Excellence for Recovery, will host the 2025 Pathways to Integrity: Ethics in Behavioral Health and Peer Support Conference on Aug. 5 and 6 at the Flatwoods Conference Center in Sutton, W.Va. The two-day, in-person gathering is presented in partnership with the Opioid Response Network in SAMHSA Region 3.
Building on last year’s Nexus Ethics Summit, the event is designed to elevate ethical standards and foster collaboration across behavioral health and peer support disciplines. Attendees will engage in immersive workshops, analyze real-world case studies and participate in scenario-based discussions designed to challenge conventional thinking and elevate practice.
“This conference is about more than ethics training — it’s about bringing together professionals with diverse experiences and shared values to strengthen integrity in behavioral health practice,” said Kelly Wiltsey, project director of the West Virginia Behavioral Health Training Center. “Whether you work in direct care, systems-level planning or peer support, this event will offer you tools, perspectives and meaningful connections that last far beyond the two days.”
Conference topics and settings will include behavioral health (both private practice and school-based), addictions and prevention and peer recovery support.
Participants will gain practical tools for ethical decision-making, strategies to address systemic barriers and approaches to promote culturally responsive care.
Conference registration is free. Attendees are responsible for their own lodging, transportation and meals.
How to Register:
Visit wvbhtraining.org/trainings to register and stay updated.
Lodging Information:… Read More
Therapists, counselors, social workers and helping professionals have the opportunity to participate in a training opportunity with one of the foremost experts in the field of family therapy at Marshall University from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12.
The one-day free training featuring George Faller, LMFT, is hosted by the West Virginia Behavioral Health Training Center, a project of the Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery in the Marshall University Research Corporation.
Faller is a globally recognized trainer in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), founder of the New York Center for EFT, licensed marriage and family therapist, trauma specialist, author and retired Fire Department of New York lieutenant. He brings decades of frontline experience into his therapy and teaching and is widely regarded as one of the top global leaders in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), an attachment-based model proven to foster lasting transformation within families.
The free, full-day virtual training will provide participants with core EFT skills to strengthen family bonds, navigate emotional reactivity and overcome therapeutic impasses. Using the TEMPO model and a structured three-stage framework, attendees will learn how to move families from protection and blame toward vulnerability, connection and healing.… Read More
Marshall University and Mountwest Community and Technical College (MCTC) have partnered with Education Design Lab and The Koch Foundation to introduce innovative micro-pathways in healthcare and welding, offering students fast, flexible and affordable routes to in-demand careers.
Micro-pathways include stackable programs designed to equip learners with industry-specific skills, certifications and degrees. These programs are tailored for working professionals, recent graduates and career changers looking to upskill quickly and efficiently.
Why Micro-Pathways?
Fast: entry programs can be completed in weeks or months, making them ideal for rapid career advancement. Flexible: Most courses are available in online, in-person, or hybrid formats to fit various learning styles and schedules. Affordable: Cost-effective options help students gain valuable skills without long-term financial commitments. Stackable: Credits earned can be applied toward associate or bachelor’s degrees, providing a seamless transition for continued education. The micro-pathways have been created to meet the needs of the current workforce.
“This partnership between Marshall and Mountwest is about meeting the evolving needs of the workforce,” said Dr. Julia Spears, assistant provost for online education and certification at Marshall. “By offering micro-pathways in high-demand fields like health care and welding, we are providing learners with the skills they need to secure meaningful employment and advance their careers.”
Dr. Josh Baker, president of Mountwest Community and Technical College, highlighted the community impact of the partnership.… Read More
The Lewis College of Business and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business at Marshall University announced a series of personnel appointments that align with the university’s strategic priorities of enhancing student achievement through experiential learning and fostering innovation and economic impact in Marshall’s areas of distinction.
“We are thrilled for this exceptional group of scholar-leaders at the Lewis College of Business,” said Dr. Ben Eng, interim dean. “Their expertise and passion will undoubtedly further our college’s mission to create and share business knowledge that brings prosperity to our students, West Virginia and beyond.”
New faculty hires
· Dr. Huayi Tang – assistant professor and director, Marshall University Student Investment Management Program
Tang joins the Department of Finance, Economics, and International Business with a Ph.D. in finance from the University of Utah. A Certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM), he brings expertise in corporate and municipal finance, institutional investing and sustainability. His research includes a forthcoming article in the Journal of Accounting Research on racial disparities in financial complaints. Tang previously taught at the University of Kentucky and University of Utah and served as an account manager at China Everbright Bank.… Read More
The Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery is hosting a free, virtual training beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, focused on its newly launched behavioral health data dashboard. This interactive session will equip users with the tools to navigate and apply local and regional data to support effective behavioral health planning and community initiatives.
The dashboard was created to enhance access to reliable, up-to-date data critical for behavioral health assessment and planning. By empowering professionals and communities with this resource, the Center of Excellence seeks to drive meaningful, data-informed change.
The Aug. 20 training aims to maximize awareness and utilization of the dashboard, which was initially previewed in April during Prevention Day at the Legislature, in collaboration with Terzetto Creative, LLC. The dashboard offers centralized, easy-to-access behavioral health data across West Virginia counties and regions.
“This training is essential for anyone who wants to move from insight to action,” says Tammy Collins, Ph.D., associate director of the Center of Excellence for Recovery. “We want communities to not only have access to the data, but to feel confident in using it to inform grants, strategic plans, and local solutions.”
Participants will receive step-by-step guidance on using the dashboard to identify trends, address emerging needs and tailor interventions more effectively. The training is tailored to offer support for coalition members, health professionals or local officials.
To access the data dashboard and register for the training, visit https://mucenterofexcellence.org/data-dashboard/… Read More
Marshall University has named Dr. Anne Marie Casey as the inaugural director of its newly established School of Library Science.
Casey brings more than four decades of experience in librarianship and academic leadership to this pivotal role. She retired in 2023 as director of the Hunt Library at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and previously served as associate dean of libraries at Central Michigan University. Her extensive career also includes leadership and professional positions at National University in San Diego, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Springfield City Library in Massachusetts.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Casey to Marshall,” said Dr. Monica Brooks, dean of University Libraries. “Her expertise, vision and national network will be instrumental in shaping West Virginia’s first Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) program to meet the evolving needs of our communities and the profession.”
Casey earned her Ph.D. in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions from Simmons University, a Master of Arts in Library Science from the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts in Medieval Studies from The Catholic University of America, and a bachelor’s degree in Classics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
An active member of the Florida Library Association, she currently chairs its fundraising committee and is also a member of the American Library Association. In addition to her leadership roles, Casey continues to provide consulting services to libraries and consortia nationwide.… Read More
The Health Science Technology Academy (HSTA) Fun with Science Institute at Marshall University kicks off this holiday weekend at Marshall University.
HSTA is a statewide initiative that helps high school students with an interest in STEM fields thrive in high school and college. The following hands-on activities are a few of the activities scheduled:
· Physics Demonstration, 1 – 5 p.m. Monday, July 7, in Room 227 of the Science Building
· Gaming, 1-5 p.m. Monday, July 7, in Room 1104 of the Engineering Building, Weisberg Applied Engineering Complex (WAEC)
· Suturing Lab, 1 – 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, in Room 212 of the Science Building
· Robotics Competition, 8:30 – 11 a.m. Thursday, July 10, in Room 1103 of the WAEC
· Disaster Relief Simulation, 1 – 5 p.m. Thursday, July 10, in Rooms 2121 and 1104 of the WAEC.
· Doctor Rounds, 6 – 8 p.m. Thursday, July 10, John Marshall Room, Memorial Student Center, 6-8 PM
It’s expected that 84 rising nineth-graders from all over West Virginia, eight teachers and assistants, three HSTA field site coordinators and nine college students as resident counselors will attend the week’s events.
An awards luncheon is set from 11 a.m. till 1 p.m. Friday, July 11, in the John Marshall Room in the Memorial Student Center.
Media note: Reporters are welcome to cover these events.… Read More
Gov. Patrick Morrisey has extended the Independence Day holiday weekend for state employees by closing offices an additional day.
Final exams are already scheduled for Summer C session on Thursday, July 3, requiring the university to stay open. Accordingly, Marshall University will observe this extra holiday on Monday, July 7.
Some essential campus services will remain open on Monday, July 7 and affected employees should consult with their supervisor for direction.
Marshall Health and Health Sciences employees should follow the instructions provided by Marshall Health and/or their supervisor.
The university will reopen on a normal operating schedule Tuesday, July 8, when Summer D session will officially begin.… Read More
Marshall University has announced the appointment of Dr. Uma Sundaram as senior advisor to the president for Veterans Affairs and Translational Sciences, effective immediately. This newly established role reflects the university’s deep commitment to advancing health care, particularly for the region’s veteran population.
Sundaram joined Marshall University in 2013 from West Virginia University and has guided the institution’s research enterprise.
In his new capacity, Sundaram will provide strategic guidance to the President’s Office on initiatives related to veterans’ health, clinical and translational research and multi-institutional collaboration aimed at addressing healthcare disparities in Appalachia and beyond.
“I am honored to take on this new role, which builds on the work I’ve led for many years in veterans’ health and translational research,” Sundaram said. “Marshall University is uniquely positioned to lead in these areas, and I look forward to working with our partners and communities to further this mission.”
Sundaram began his education studying bioengineering at Johns Hopkins University, where his interest in basic, clinical and translational research was born. He earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Ohio (University of Toledo College of Medicine) and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. He then completed a fellowship at the Division of Digestive Diseases of Yale University School of Medicine. His board certifications include the National Board of Medical Examiners, Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.… Read More
Memory bricks from the demolition of Holderby Hall will be available for pickup beginning Monday, June 30, at the 17th Street side of the demolition site, just outside the construction fence.
Pickup is available from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Friday, July 18.
Please note that this area is an active demolition site, so please be aware of trucks and equipment.
… Read More
