HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University sophomore Eddie Sorah has been selected for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Spark virtual initiative, a nationally competitive language learning program.
Sorah, an International Affairs and Japanese double major, will spend nine weeks this summer intensively studying Japanese through live instruction, cultural exchanges with language partners, hands-on activities, and virtual tours of historic and culturally significant sites in Japan.
Sorah hopes the program will strengthen his Japanese language skills and help him achieve his goal of becoming fully fluent. As a CLS Spark recipient, he will also receive automatic semifinalist status for next year’s CLS in-person overseas study scholarship program, should he choose to apply. That program offers a fully funded, immersive language and cultural experience abroad.
He plans to pursue a career in translation or interpretation for government or intergovernmental organizations, where advanced language skills will be essential.
Marshall’s Office of National Scholarships assists students, alumni, staff and faculty in applying for competitive opportunities such as the Critical Language Scholarship and Fulbright awards. For more information, contact Heather Smith at ons@marshall.edu.
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University Online and the Office of Graduate Studies are presenting two upcoming virtual information sessions for prospective students interested in advancing their careers through graduate education. These sessions provide insights into the university’s graduate programs, curriculum details and the application process. Upcoming Sessions: Master’s Degrees in Computer Science, Cybersecurity and Data Science – at noon Eastern Standard Time on Monday, April 7. Master of Public Administration (MPA) – at 5 p.m. EST Wednesday, April 9.
During these sessions, university representatives will be available to discuss program specifics, career opportunities, and the benefits of pursuing a graduate degree at Marshall University. Attendees will also have the chance to ask questions and learn about the flexibility and available resources through Marshall Online.
“These virtual sessions are a great way for prospective students to explore our graduate programs and learn how Marshall can support their academic and professional goals,” said Dr. Carl Mummert, assistant provost for Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies at Marshall University.
Prospective students can register and get more information at https://events.marshall.edu/online.… Read More
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall University is set to host the sixth Alys Smith Symposium on Women Professionals at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in the Don Morris Room of the Memorial Student Center. This event is free and open to the public, with a reception to follow.
The symposium will feature a keynote address by Judge Stephanie Thacker, a 1987 alumna of Marshall University and current judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Following the keynote, a panel discussion of local women in the legal field and Q&A session will provide attendees with insights into the experiences and challenges faced by women working in various positions in these professions.
The Alys Smith Symposium is sponsored by the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program and the Office of the President. It aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements and contributions of women in various professional fields.
“We are so fortunate to be able to host Judge Thacker for this event, and I am incredibly indebted to my colleague Patricia Proctor for making the connection,” said Dr. Hilary Brewster, director of the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program. “I’m also excited to host so many other incredibly accomplished Marshall alumnae who then chose a career… Read More
The 2024 Small Communities, BIG Solutions (SCBS) Conference returns to Princeton, West Virginia, for the seventh year Nov. 20-22. The event is hosted by the Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia – which is housed at Marshall University — as well as Coalfield Development, The Community Development Hub (The Hub), and Generation West Virginia, and will showcase initiatives driving change across the state.
The conference provides a unique space for community leaders, policymakers and changemakers to engage in discussions that address West Virginia’s most pressing issues. The event will feature panels, workshops and keynotes from experts in sectors such as economic development, health, education and workforce innovation. Topics will span across community revitalization, job creation and workforce development.
“This conference is an ideal platform for showcasing West Virginia’s innovations and driving meaningful change,” said Brandon Dennison, who is chair of the Alliance Operation Council and vice president of Workforce and Economic Development at Marshall University. “I especially like the focus on small communities and bottom-up innovation.”
One of the highlights of the SCBS Conference is the annual Power of Performance Awards, which honor individuals and organizations making a significant difference by revitalizing communities, putting people to work or changing lives.
Stephanie Tyree, executive director of the Hub, said the conference is a celebration.… Read More
Marshall University’s cyber team placed eighth at Emagine The Future 2024, a cybersecurity Capture the Flag competition hosted by Emagine IT Inc. Nov. 1 and 2 at Loyola University in Baltimore.
Marshall students Abrianna Angus, Adam Whitehair, Zander Lambert, Noah Quesenberry and Jacob Lauffer competed, under the leadership of faculty advisor John McFee. Sponsored by the Institute for Cyber Security, the team’s participation in this event reflects Marshall University’s commitment to providing students with hands-on experiences that develop both technical skills and professional connections in the cybersecurity field, McFee said. Participating in Emagine The Future 2024 provided Marshall cybersecurity team with invaluable experience that bridged academic learning and real-world cybersecurity practice, he said.
“This challenging, six-hour competition tested their knowledge and skills across various cybersecurity domains, including Reverse Engineering, Open Source Intelligence, Network Analysis and Digital Forensics,” he said. “The experience not only strengthened their practical skills but also encouraged collaboration and critical thinking under pressure, preparing them for future careers in a fast-evolving field.
“Alongside the intense Capture the Flag (CTF) competition, the students also attended two high-impact panels hosted by industry and national security leaders,” he said. “These panels addressed critical issues in cybersecurity, including advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, data strategies, and the evolving threat landscape, offering the students unique insights into the latest developments shaping the field.”… Read More
The Society of Yeager Scholars at Marshall University will present the 2024 Symposium Lecture, “Arts in Appalachia,” featuring a keynote speech by Leah Turley, creative artistic director of the Appalachian Artists Collective and director of Marshall University Theatre ETC. The event will highlight the rich artistic traditions and the importance of the arts for empowering communities in the Appalachian region. This event is free and open to the public, with no registration required.
The event takes place at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation.
Turley, who has played a vital role in promoting Appalachian voices through theater and theater education, will deliver the keynote address. Her work at the intersection of art and Appalachian identity is expected to provide an inspiring perspective on the transformative power of the arts in the region.
Before the keynote, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions featuring a diverse group of Appalachian artists and creators, including:… Read More
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Fifty-four years ago, on a rainy Nov. 14, 1970, Southern Airways Flight 932 crashed into a hillside as it approached Tri-State Airport with 75 Thundering Herd coaches, teammates, staff, supporters and flight crew members on board. The loss to not only the families of the victims in the crash, but the entire Huntington community, was immediately felt.
Michael Barbera’s mother, Tara, lost her parents, Margaret “Peggy” Chambers and Dr. Joseph Chambers — a family physician who also served the Marshall football team — in the crash. He never knew them personally, but he says through his mother’s stories over the years, their legacy has lived on. Tara Barbera was just 14 when her parents died.
“Growing up, my mom didn’t talk about the tragedy,” said Barbera. “She only spoke about the time she had with her mom and dad. Her stories gave my brother and I an idea of how great our grandparents were through her memories.”
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Marshall University’s Amicus Curiae Lecture Series on Constitutional Democracy will celebrate U.S. Constitution and Citizenship Day with a lecture by award-winning author and historian Denver Brunsman.
The event, which is free and open to the public, is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall.
Brunsman’s lecture, titled “Neither to Stretch, nor Relax: George Washington, Executive Power, and the Constitution,” will explore George Washington as a constitutional thinker and practitioner. As Brunsman points out, Washington not only played a vital role in the drafting of the constitution by serving as the president of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and as the country’s first president, he also defined how the executive would function. As president, he faced many difficult decisions concerning executive power and how it should be used.
“I am very excited about this lecture as issues related to executive power and how broad it should be are constantly part of our political discourse and subject to constitutional dispute,” said Patricia Proctor, director of the Simon Perry Center for Constitutional Democracy, which sponsors the lecture series. “Dr. Brunsman can bring to life the perspective of our first president, who held strong views regarding the Constitution and how the executive should be defined. I look forward to hearing this issue discussed in historical context, to thinking about how the history impacts our world today, and considering what Washington has to teach us on the topic.” … Read More
Marshall University’s Tijah Bumgarner, a professor of video production and filmmaker, initiated production this month on her latest feature film, “Of the Cloth.” The film delves into the societal role of churches in communities ravaged by the opioid epidemic and was shot over 10 days on location in Huntington.
The production team included Patrick Ward-Perkins, local actors, a crew of local professionals, alumni of Marshall’s School of Art & Design, and current students in Marshall’s BFA Filmmaking program.
“Of the Cloth” explores churches’ influence in communities, particularly in areas besieged by the opioid crisis. The narrative centers around a young pastor assigned to lead a church in an impoverished Appalachian town. It captures his journey as his naïve idealism about aiding a woman battling substance abuse disorder collides with the stark realities of life and the complexities of organized religion.
“I was raised in a small town in West Virginia where the church was the center of my social life, but it wasn’t until researching Appalachia for my Ph.D. that I understood a truer need for church within the community,” Bumgarner said. Her experience with the socio-cultural fabric of Appalachia informs the film’s portrayal of the struggles and resilience of its people.… Read More
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Health Network is pleased to announce the addition of fellowship-trained pediatric cardiologist Mariam Opel, M.D., to its team of pediatric specialists.
Opel specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease, arrhythmias and cardiovascular disease in children. She joins Marshall Health pediatric cardiologists, Jeffrey K. Harris, M.D., and Jack R. Stines, M.D., associate professors of pediatrics at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. Together, they provide experienced cardiac care to children at Marshall Pediatrics and Hoops Family Children’s Hospital at Cabell Huntington Hospital. … Read More
Intermed Labs (IL), in collaboration with Marshall Health Network (MHN), has launched Kneedle LLC, a company featuring an innovative medical device designed to significantly enhance the detection of infections in joint replacement surgeries. The patent-pending device was co-invented by Ali Oliashirazi, M.D., professor and chair of orthopaedic surgery at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Alisina Shahi, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and Intermed Labs.
Kneedle addresses the persistent challenge in the field of orthopaedic surgery of false negatives in infection detection after joint replacement surgeries. Traditional methods can miss low-grade periprosthetic infections in up to 40% of cases, leading to delays in treatment and higher complications, according to Dr. Ali Oliashirazi.
Kneedle’s design leverages advanced technology to provide more accurate and timely detection of infections, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing the likelihood of missed diagnoses. By ensuring that infections are identified and treated promptly, Kneedle aims to decrease the need for additional surgeries and enhance the overall recovery experience for patients undergoing joint replacement procedures.
“The Kneedle device may be a game-changer for both patients and health care providers,” said Oliashirazi, a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon at Marshall Health Network. “Our goal is to increase the accuracy of infection detection, reduce the number of false negatives and ultimately improve the quality of care for patients undergoing joint replacement surgeries.”… Read More
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University’s psychology experts once again took center stage at Comic-Con International in Anaheim, California, July 25-28. The event featured over 350 panel discussions with actors, writers and luminaries from television, movies, gaming and comics.
Dr. Keith Beard, director of Marshall’s Psy.D. program, expressed excitement about the unique opportunity.
“We have been fortunate enough to be able to present at Comic-Con International’s conference multiple times for more than a decade,” Beard said. “Having Marshall and Comic-Con support and see the value in our research has been great. We have enjoyed the experience and being able to talk about Marshall University, the research we are doing, and the results of that research with an audience that isn’t your typical crowd that we present to at a psychology-focused conference. This research has even led to the publication of a book.”
The panels they presented included: “Psychology and Nostalgia,” which looked at the toys and cartoons people grew up with and personality factors for why they hold on to them, collect them and enjoy them, as well as “Action and Escape with Psychology,” which looked at action movies and personalities of… Read More
