Marshall University is proud to announce its selection to join the inaugural cohort of the LER Accelerator, a national initiative focused on advancing accessible, interoperable Learning and Employment Record (LER) systems.
Marshall is one of only 25 institutions across the country chosen to take part, and it will be helping lead the way in trying out new, creative ways to use digital credentials. The goal is to identify more opportunities, give learners more control and better recognize their skills.
Marshall’s project will focus on integrating credit and non-credit learning experiences to develop flexible credentialing models and quality assurance frameworks, enhancing learner employability and creating a more transparent education-to-workforce ecosystem.
Dr. Julia Spears, assistant provost for online education and certification at Marshall said there is quite a bit of excitement around the project.
“In alignment with our Marshall for All, Marshall Forever campaign, Marshall University is dedicated to offering flexible learning experiences and ensuring that students have access to the credentials they need to pursue their career goals,” Spears said. “Participation in this cohort will increase our pace to create alternative learning-to-career paths for learners at Marshall.”
As part of the LER Accelerator cohort, Marshall University aims to develop flexible credentialing models to enhance employability and create a more transparent education-to-workforce ecosystem.
To learn more about the LER Accelerator, visit the initiative website.… Read More
Summer Camps for children in sixth through eighth grade are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Science Building on Marshall’s campus. The cost is $250 per camp, with the exception of June 30-July 3, which is $200. Lunch and snacks are provided.
The schedule is as follows:
June 9-13: Physics & Math
This week brings hands-on exploration where physics and math come alive. Students will launch rockets, design egg-saving contraptions and craft their own musical instruments — all while uncovering the fascinating forces behind motion, sound and energy. Then, they dive into the playful side of math through puzzles, games and challenges that reveal the patterns hidden in everyday life. Whether solving the mystery of chicken nugget combinations, outsmarting friends in strategy games or figuring out how to guard an art gallery, they’ll use creativity, teamwork and critical thinking to see just how fun STEM can be.
June 30-July 3: Exploring Animal Behavior
This exciting, hands-on camp is all about discovering the fascinating ways animals interact with their environment — and with each other. Students will get up close with wild birds and study the tiny but mighty fruit fly in the lab. This session will focus on physiology and behavior.
July 14-18: Nature HERDventure Camp
This week, students explore the wild side of science. Each day brings a new adventure into the natural world as campers investigate plants, animals, soils, water and human impacts on the environment through hands-on experiments, field activities and exciting discoveries.… Read More
Marshall University’s W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SOJMC) is welcoming five new members to its Hall of Fame.
Corley Dennison, Cathryn Gibbs Harris, Jeff Hopson, Jerod Smalley and Patrick Wittich will be inducted into the hall during a ceremony this fall.
“Marshall University has a long and proud history of journalism and mass communications excellence, and this newest class of inductees into our Hall of Fame once again proves that,” said Chris Dickerson, president of the SOJMC Alumni Advisory Board, which handles the nomination process. “Every year, our board has an immensely talented pool of candidates nominated for induction. It’s always a difficult process because of the rich talent.
“Like all of our previous inductees, these newest ones have done great things all over the world in a variety of fields. We are extremely proud of all of our graduates, and it is an honor to welcome four more very deserving members to our Hall of Fame.”
The first class was enshrined in 1985, and the latest honorees bring the number of inductees to 90.
Dennison served as dean of the SOJMC from 2004 to 2012. He currently is the interim president of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. He also previously served for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and spent 29 years at Marshall, which also included time as a journalism professor, Faculty Senate president and associate vice president for Academic Affairs.… Read More
Marshall University researchers, working with an international investigative team from Chile and Canada, have identified a group of fossils as belonging to a new genus of sea creature, unlike any previously known.
Traskasaura sandrae, officially named in the new study, was a 39-foot-long, long-necked creature with large, sharp and robust teeth well-suited for crushing. It also could attack prey above by virtue of its elongated neck.
Published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Systematic Paleontology, the findings reveal that Traskasaura displayed a unique combination of both primitive and advanced traits not seen in any other elasmosaur, a genus of plesiosaur.
“Plesiosaur fossils have been known for decades in British Columbia,” explains lead author F. Robin O’Keefe, a Marshall biology professor who is an acknowledged expert on marine reptiles from the age of dinosaurs. “However, the identity of the animal that left the fossils has remained a mystery, even as it was declared BC’s provincial fossil in 2023. Our new research published today finally solves this mystery.”
O’Keefe and his Marshall team have published widely in journals including Science, Nature and Systematic Biology. For more information on their work and the Department of Biological Sciences, visit Biological Sciences – Marshall University.… Read More
Researchers at Marshall University have developed a promising treatment strategy to address overdoses involving fentanyl and the veterinary sedative xylazine, a combination increasingly linked to severe health complications and reduced effectiveness of standard overdose reversal agents.
In a new study published in The Journal of Translational Research, Michael Hambuchen, PharmD, PhD, associate professor at the Marshall University School of Pharmacy, and pharmacy graduate student Jyostna Yalakala, BVSc, MS, in collaboration with Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine clinical researcher Todd Davies, Ph.D., associate director of research and development in the Division of Addiction Sciences, and addiction medicine fellowship team, report that combining naloxone with the investigational drug atipamezole dramatically improves recovery outcomes in animal models of fentanyl-xylazine overdose.
“Adding even a low dose of atipamezole—already tested safely in humans for other indications—to naloxone rapidly restored consciousness in rats exposed to fentanyl and xylazine,” said Hambuchen, lead author of the study. “We also saw improvements in heart rate, blood glucose and body temperature, which are all severely disrupted by this dangerous drug combination.”
Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer not approved for human use, is increasingly found as a contaminant in illicit fentanyl supplies. The combination results in profound sedation, impaired respiration, dangerously low heart rate, lowered body temperature and elevated blood glucose, and chronic use is associated with serious skin ulcers. Compounding the danger, xylazine is not an opioid and is therefore resistant to reversal by naloxone alone.… Read More
Marshall University is proud to announce that Alexandria Donathan, (formerly Royal), has been appointed as the new executive director of the Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security (ICS).
In her role, Donathan will oversee all aspects of the institute’s operations, including requirements, priorities, budgets, systems and processes. She will also work closely with industry and government partners to ensure robust and ongoing support for the ICS mission.
Donathan brings extensive experience in cybersecurity from her most recent position as the senior technical advisor at United States Cyber Command’s Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Networks (JFHQ-DODIN), a key partner with Marshall’s ICS. At JFHQ-DODIN, she played a vital role in advising leadership on cybersecurity threats and shaping policies related to cyber threat management and mitigations for Department of Defense (DOD) networks.
In addition to her distinguished service at JFHQ-DODIN, Donathan previously served as a technical architect with Palo Alto Networks, where she led the deployment of cybersecurity capabilities for the DOD. Her work involved designing solutions that balanced business needs with cybersecurity requirements, showcasing her expertise in aligning strategic objectives with cutting-edge security practices.
Donathan’s military background further enhances her role at the ICS. She served in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, rising to the rank of master sergeant before her commissioning as a second lieutenant in December 2023. During her service, she deployed multiple times.… Read More
The Brass Band of the TriState will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, in Smith Recital Hall on the Marshall University campus. The concert is free and open to all.
The band will present a program of movie music from classics like “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Great Escape,” and “2001 A Space Odyssey” to more modern fare such as “Jurassic Park,” “Monsters, Inc.,” and “Brassed Off.”
The Brass Band of the TriState is the only British-style brass band in the state and has been in existence for approximately 30 years. The group, under the direction of Dr. Michael Stroeher, professor of brass at Marshall, consists of community members, Marshall students and alumni, and professional musicians.
“I’ve aways thought that some of the best music being written today and, in the past, comes from movies,” Stroeher said. “This concert highlights the wide variety of styles in film music, from heavy classical to jazz.”
All are welcome.… Read More
Nearly 200 Marshall University faculty, staff, students, Marshall Health Network employees and community members from the Huntington area participated today in a one-mile walk led by the first families of Marshall University, Marshall Health Network and the City of Huntington at Ritter Park in Huntington, West Virginia.
The free event brought to Huntington Governor Patrick Morrisey’s Mountaineer Mile initiative, which is a statewide effort to encourage West Virginians to take the first step toward lasting wellness through simple, daily movement. The Marshall Mile event also kicked off Marshall University’s Community Cares Week, a celebration of service, health and community spirit, that begins Tuesday, May 20.
“To care for others, we must first care for ourselves,” said Marshall University First Lady Alys Smith. “This walk is a meaningful first step toward healthier habits—not just for individuals, but for our communities. My hope is that it inspires a renewed focus on personal wellness and encourages participants to build momentum leading up to the Marshall Marathon on November 2.”
Photos and video are available here:
Photos: https://jcesom.smugmug.com/Events/2025-Events/Marshall-Mile-… Read More
Marshall University is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Kelly D. Bradley as the new dean of the College of Education and Professional Development, effective Sept. 8.
“This was a thorough and highly competitive search for a critical leadership position at Marshall,” said President Brad D. Smith. “I’m deeply appreciative of the search committee’s efforts, led by Dean Robert Bookwalter and Provost Dr. Avi Mukherjee, as well as the contributions of colleagues across campus who helped guide us to the right choice. Dr. Bradley brings a dynamic vision and renewed enthusiasm to our university, and we look forward to the impactful leadership she will provide.”
Mukherjee said the selection of Bradley is a testament to the strength of the university’s reputation and the exciting opportunities ahead.
“Dr. Bradley brings a compelling vision for educational innovation, a deep commitment to preparing future educators and a proven record of transformative leadership at the institutions she has previously served,” Mukherjee said. “I am confident that under her guidance, the College of Education will continue to grow its impact on schools and communities locally, nationally, and beyond.”… Read More
Marshall University’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (iCenter) has selected four faculty members for its third cohort of Innovation Catalysts, a pioneering initiative designed to train members of the higher education community in design thinking. This problem-solving methodology emphasizes human-centered, creative approaches to addressing complex challenges.
The newly appointed Innovation Catalysts are:
Carol Smith – professor and coordinator of the Violence, Loss, and Trauma (VOLT) Certificate, Counseling Department
Casey Baker – department chair and associate professor, Accountancy & Legal Environment
John Sammons – associate director, Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security
Sarah Walton – assistant professor and director of Digital Humanities, English Department
Inspired by a similar initiative at financial technology company Intuit, the Innovation Catalyst program aligns with Marshall for All, Marshall Forever, the university’s strategic plan. It supports key priorities including student success, affordability and institutional agility in meeting evolving student needs.
Each Catalyst in the spring 2025 cohort focused on a project aligned with their area of expertise, including graduate education, undergraduate student – faculty mentoring, cybersecurity education and digital humanities. Participants completed an intensive, semester-long training in design thinking, led by Maddy Branham, interim assistant director of the iCenter. In addition to learning new tools and techniques, they also applied their skills to lead design thinking projects within their own departments.
The cohort was formally recognized for each member’s achievements at a reception held April 29 at the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation.… Read More
The names of Marshall University students who made the president’s and dean’s lists for the Spring 2025 semester are available on the Marshall website at the following link:
Dean’s and President’s Lists – Marshall University News
… Read More
The Marshall University School of Pharmacy celebrated numerous recognitions amongst its faculty, staff, students and alumni last month, including annual school awards and those presented by the West Virginia Pharmacists Association last month at its annual meeting in Morgantown.
“These accolades demonstrate the Marshall University School of Pharmacy’s commitment to innovation, leadership, service and education, highlighting our individual and collective strengths,” said Dr. Eric Blough, dean of the School of Pharmacy. “From faculty and staff to students and alumni, these honors reflect not only individual excellence but the strength of our commitment to enhancing the delivery of health care throughout West Virginia and beyond.”
The 2025 Awards from Marshall University School of Pharmacy were presented at the MUSOP 2025 Awards & Pinning Ceremony April 11 at the Memorial Student Center. Recipients included:
Dr. Nandini Manne — recipient of the Faculty Person of the Year Award, the Dean Brian Gallagher Award for Excellence in Community Outreach and/or Advocacy 2025. Manne is an associate professor and associate dean of assessment and accreditation in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, Administration, & Research. The award was presented for his impactful public health work across the Tri-State area, particularly in West Virginia. His efforts have secured over $5 million in external funding and advanced initiatives in vaccine equity, overdose prevention, and community response, solidifying his role as a leader in data-driven, community-centered health advocacy.… Read More
