On April 1, 2008, WVU President Mike Garrison hosted a forum in the Vandalia Lounge of the Mountainlair where students shared their thoughts on student health care. Chris Plein, chair of the Eberly College’s Division of Public Administration, moderated the forum.

This forum was held to further explore concerns students expressed about Student Health operations and facilities during public forums in the fall and in follow-up focus groups.

In response to those concerns, the WVU Student Health Service plans to change its operations – and will move to a larger, more convenient space by next fall. Garrison also appointed a student health implementation team to continue to move forward with improvements in both student health and counseling services on campus.

Watch the archived version of the webcast

On March 18, 2008, WVU President Mike Garrison moderated a conversation among WVU faculty, staff, and students who discussed their efforts in providing health care services around the state. One of the most important missions as a University is to provide the people of the state – and the world—with better health care. Thousands of WVU people – including faculty and staff, our students, and our alumni – are united in this effort. This event provided an open forum for people to talk about their work and share ideas.

A blog article on Mike’s Notes provides short quotes and video clips from the event. An archived version of the live webcast of the forum is also available.

Today WVU celebrates the inauguration of its 22nd president with a 1 p.m. ceremony in Woodburn Circle.

President Mike Garrison’s inauguration is open to the public. A general seating area in the circle is being reserved until 12:45 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis, and a large LCD screen in Woodburn Circle will project inaugural images to those viewing the ceremony from afar.

If you cannot attend, please tune in to the live webcast. Note: Quicktime is required to view video and can be downloaded at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.

Twenty years ago Mike Garrison enrolled in WVU as a freshman; now he has come home to serve as his alma mater’s 22nd president. Today’s ceremony marks Garrison’s official installation as WVU president and highlights Inauguration week activities that have celebrated the WVU pride and the University’s commitment to fulfilling dreams and changing lives.

Scenes from the Inauguration of WVU President Mike Garrison

Women’s Studies employee Cathy Jasper greets President Garrison on the circle prior to the ceremony

President Garrison walks through a sea of blue and gold seats as he checks out the ceremony set-up

President Garrison thanks Physical Plant workers as they prepare the stage in Woodburn Circle

President Garrison thanks Physical Plant workers Tanya Zeigler and Dominick Rocca as they prepare the circle for the inaugural event

President Garrison greets his former executive assistant in Governor Bob Wise’s administration, Sherri Foreman and her husband, Kevin

President Garrison greets his long-time Morgantown friend Rodney Bean

Jim and Patty Pitrolo from Charleston chat with the president on the steps of Martin Hall

Gold and Blue Ambassador Whitney Burks welcomes President Mike Garrison

Governor Joe Manchin III and President Garrison stroll across University Avenue before the event

Former Governor Gaston Caperton and WVU’s 22nd President Mike Garrison prior to the ceremony in Garrison’s Stewart Hall office

Provost Gerald Lang greets Governor Joe Manchin and President Garrison on the steps of Stewart Hall as Associate Provost Russ Dean looks on

Former Governor Bob Wise with his former Chief Economic Development Director David Satterfield in the lobby of Stewart Hall

Accounting faculty member Tim Pearson prepares for the processional

Higher Education Policy Commission Chancellor Brian Noland talks with West Virginia’s First Lady Gayle Manchin

President Garrison robes for the ceremony in his Stewart Hall office with University Grand Marshal Mary Strife

President’s Office executive assistant Rita Swanger arranges Heather Garrison’s regalia

President’s Office executive assistant Rita Swanger assists President Garrison with his robe

Congressman Alan Mollohan congratulates President Garrison as they prepare for the ceremony

Senator Jay Rockefeller talks with President Garrison

Julia and Gabriella Garrison with a family friend in Stewart Hall

Framed under the arch of Stewart Hall, Governor Joe Manchin, Board of Governors Chairman Stephen Goodwin, and President Mike Garrison talk before the inauguration

The crowd begins to arrive for the ceremony in Woodburn Circle

Bagpiper Craig Presar, Extension agent from Upshur County

WVU University Choir, under direction of Kathleen Shannon, provides music for the ceremony

English professor and award-winning poet James Harms reads an original inaugural piece

WVU’s chief administrator is formally inducted as the 22nd president by Governor Joe Manchin III. Garrison is joined by his wife, Heather Garrison, and Faculty Senate Chair J. Steven Kite

Capt. Lee Ann Campbell, U.S. Army, a 2001 graduate from Keyser, spoke as part of the ten “Voices” that represented different segments of the University. She received a standing ovation following her remarks about flying combat missions in Iraq and supporting Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in Louisiana.

WVU President Mike Garrison delivers his inaugural address just off the steps of Woodburn Hall

During the inaugural address, WVU students shouted the “Go Mountaineers” chant

President Garrison said, as he completed his remarks, “Thank you for spending time with me today in the rain.”

Following the ceremony, President Garrison and daughter Julia hold hands and head up the steps of Stewart Hall

Photos by Greg Ellis, Tom Crozier, and Shannon Dey—WVU Photographic Services

Maybe it was a mentor who opened the door to new opportunities, a class that changed their outlook on the world, or a student group where they met life-long friends—for alumni all over the world, their WVU experience changed the course of their lives.

Today, as part of WVU’s Inauguration week activities, five of those alumni have returned to campus for a panel discussion during President Mike Garrison’s Political Science 321 class.

A live webcast will be available. Quicktime is required to view video and can be downloaded at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.

Photos will be posted below during this event. Refresh your Web browser for the latest information.

President Garrison began this afternoon’s class by introducing members of what he described as an “all-star” panel:

Capt. Lee Ann Campbell

Capt. Lee Ann Campbell, bachelor’s degree, sociology and anthropology, 2001—Capt. Campbell’s prior duty assignments include the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. She served in Operation Iraqi Freedom II and also supported Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts.

Sarah Culberson

Sarah Culberson, bachelor’s degree in fine arts, theatre, 1998—Culberson’s extensive acting and dancing career includes theater, movies, television, and commercials. She is also executive director of Kposowa Foundation.

Stacy Humphreys

Stacy Humphreys, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, history, 2000 and 2002—Humphreys has serves as a park ranger/historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia.

Bill McCartney

Bill McCartney, bachelor’s degree, chemical engineering, 1995—McCartney currently manages more than $250 million in natural gas storage and transportation assets for Vitol Inc., an industry leader in the global energy market.

Dr. Brian Noland

Dr. Brian Noland, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, political science —Dr. Noland is chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Policy Commission.

Carrie Webster

Carrie Webster, bachelor’s degree, political science, 1988 and juris doctorate, WVU College of Law, 1997—Webster represents the 31st district in Kanawha County in the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Dr. Deb Wituski

Dr. Deb Wituski, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, political science, 1991 and 1994—She has worked at the Central Intelligence Agency since 1999.

Class members submitted questions for the panelists. Topics discussed ranged from their formative experiences as undergraduates at WVU to specific aspects of their current jobs.

Carrie Webster—“Put yourself in a position where you’ll be number two or number three, because it will make you a better leader,” she said, remembering her decision to run for the position of student body vice president at WVU.

Sarah Culberson—“Take risks – just go after and sometimes it unfolds for you.”

Capt. Lee Ann Campbell—“WVU is still changing my life. The thing that took me out into the world was that I gained social, financial, and academic independence. The leadership experience that I got here at the University has carried me through.”

Stacy Humphreys—“Get to know your professors. During my six years here I came to know my professors, they came to know me. They will support you if you need them.”

More Photos

1998 WVU graduate Sarah Culberson has returned to campus—and her hometown of Morgantown—to speak at the 20th annual Women of Color Celebration. She will talk about life as an African princess and an advocate for the people of Bumpe, in Sierra Leone, West Africa. More about Sarah Culberson

This event, sponsored by WVU’s Council for Women’s Concerns and the President’s Office for Social Justice, is a highlight of Diversity Week and is also part of the University’s Inauguration week activities.

Today’s luncheon will be webcast at 11:30 a.m. Note: Quicktime is required to view video and can be downloaded at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/. There will be a pause during the webcast while lunch is served.

Notes and photos from the event will be posted below as the luncheon progresses. Refresh your Web browser for the latest information.

President Mike Garrison opened the luncheon welcoming those in attendance.

“It is my pleasure today to celebrate with you the contributions that women of color make to this university community…. I think it’s very appropriate that this event comes during Diversity Week and Homecoming Week because I think it’s very important to continue to weave the message of diversity into who we are as a university,” he said.

President Mike Garrison

Council for Women’s Concerns Chair Toni Morris (left) and keynote speaker Sarah Culberson (right)

Keeping with the “Coming Home” theme of the inauguration week, Sarah Culberson entitled her presentation, “The Essence of Home,” and opened by sharing key memories that define Morgantown as her home—picking blackberries in the forest, fishing at Cheat Lake, taking dance classes at the Coliseum, cross country skiing at Coopers Rock, seeing performers at the Creative Arts Center, the intense rivalry between University and Morgantown High Schools, and the friendliness of Morgantown residents.

Sarah Culberson

She also talked about the decision she made to find her birth father, quickly learning that she was an African princess, and making the trip to Sierra Leone to meet him for the first time. She was welcomed by more than 200 people, and the women of the village welcomed her with a special song.

“I had never been there before. I didn’t know anyone. But it felt like home.”

Culberson played a video, Bumpenya (Lady of Bumpe): The Story of Sarah Culberson, about her first visit to Sierra Leone to meet her birth father, Joseph Konio Kposowa. During her visit, she was also introduced to the destruction the village had endured during the 11-year civil war. Realizing that she needed to help in some way, Sarah started a fundraising campaign for Bumpe High School that was heavily damaged by rebel troops. For more about the effort and The Kposowa Foundation, please visit http://www.bumpenya.com.

Toni Morris and Sarah Culberson

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Inauguration week activities continue this morning with a Military Appreciation Breakfast at 8 a.m. in the Mountainlair. Guests will preview photojournalist Joel Beeson’s documentary on African American World War II veterans from West Virginia. More about the project

You can watch a live webcast of the event. Note: Quicktime is required to view video and can be downloaded at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/. Please refer to the event program to follow along with the webcast.

Notes from the event will be posted below as the morning progresses. Refresh your Web browser for the latest information.

Jack Bowman

Jack Bowman, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for West Virginia and Jackson & Kelly Professor of Law Emeritus at WVU, made opening remarks to start this morning’s event, followed by presentation of the colors by WVU ROTC cadets, singing of the national anthem, and a POW/MIA tribute by members of the WVU Arnold Air Society.

WVU ROTC Color Guard

WVU Arnold Air Society POW/MIA Tribute

President Mike Garrison

President Mike Garrison also welcomed those in attendance, saying, “Each day thousands of Mountaineers pass by the mast of the U.S.S. West Virginia, which we all know was dredged up from the waters of Pearl Harbor half a century ago…I think it says a lot about us as Mountaineers and West Virginians that we keep this memorial in front of us every day and teach each succeeding generation of why it’s here….On behalf of WVU, I would like to express the profound gratitude of each member of this community for your service.”

Garrison also noted that the WVU student body includes 284 students who have returned from active service, 395 students who are members of the Reserves and National Guard, and 172 students who are dependants of disabled and deceased veterans.

“To you I say thank you for the sacrifices you have made for this country and this University,” he said. “I will do my best to honor the sacrifices you have made on all of our behalf.”

The program resumed after breakfast with remarks from Jennifer McIntosh, Executive Officer for Social Justice. As part of annual Diversity Week activities, the President’s Office for Social Justice is sponsoring the Military Appreciation Breakfast. “No matter where we started from, we are all Mountaineers,” McIntosh said, pointing out that audience members have come from all over the country.

“This is the second time we have had this event. Earlier this year, when we planned this breakfast, we never knew that President Garrison would identify this as part of his official inaugural events. This has made this morning’s event very, very special,” she added.

McIntosh also encouraged participation in the many other Diversity Week events, which include lectures, films, and other activities.

The highlight of today’s Military Breakfast program was a presentation by Joel Beeson, who showed brief excerpts from his documentary on African American World War II veterans from West Virginia. Fighting on Two Fronts: The Untold Stories of African American WWII Veterans will air this Veterans Day on West Virginia Public Television. The documentary tells the story of five “Greatest Generation” veterans who were forced to fight two battles—against racism at home and against an enemy on foreign sands.

This concludes today’s webcast and blog from the Military Appreciation Breakfast. Please join us for more Inauguration week webcasts.

More Photos

WVU’s top faculty, staff, and student-researchers have gathered tonight for a discussion about what motivates them and inspires them in the classrooms and laboratories. The event is being hosted by President Mike Garrison at his home, Blaney House.

You can watch a live webcast of the event and leave your comments by clicking “Reply to article” below. Note: Quicktime is required to view video and can be downloaded at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.

Notes from the event will be posted below as the evening progresses. Refresh your Web browser for the latest information.

Welcome to Blaney House, home of the WVU President and site of tonight’s forum with faculty, staff, and students. President Mike Garrison opened this evening’s forum reflecting on some of the influential faculty members he had as mentors while a student at WVU.

WVU senior Matt Delligatti and President Mike Garrison

“I feel I owe a debt of gratitude to the faculty of WVU. My mentors changed everything about my experience here on campus,” said Garrison.

He introduced a number of his former faculty members who are in attendance this evening: Dr Bill French, retired faculty from the Department of English; Dr. Carolyn Atkins, speech pathology and audiology professor; Dr. Robert DiClerico, political science professor; and Professor Vincent Cardi from the WVU College of Law.

To open the conversation, President Garrison asked the faculty members in attendance what they had learned from their students and what they get from teaching.

Some of the responses included:

• April Kaull, 1995 graduate of the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism—“I have the enviable position of being an adjunct professor now. One of the things I get from teaching is a renewed understanding of what I do in my ‘real’ job.”

• Dr. Robert DiClerico—“It would be the height of arrogance to assume that if you have 45 minds in the classroom that you aren’t going to learn from those 45 minds. I have had students say things that flat-out never occurred to me. They can help you take yourself to another place in your thinking, or they can tell you something that flat-out didn’t occur to you.”

• Dr. Lisa DeFrank-Cole, Program Coordinator, The Honors College – “People respond more when you treat people on the same level—it’s more of an exchange of ideas back and forth.”

Dr. Robert DiClerico, Eberly Professor of Political Science

Dr. Lisa DeFrank-Cole, The Honors College

Dr. Jonathan Cumming, Assistant Vice President for Graduate Education

Dr. Carolyn Atkins, Professor of Speech Pathology and Audiology

Then President Garrison asked students, “What makes a good teacher?”

Their responses included:

• Phoenicia Keffer, integrated marketing communication student and full-time WVU employee—“Our professors make sure we get the most current, up-to-date professors to teach us and we learn so much. That draws our interest and keeps us interested in the program.”

• Deva Solomon, law student—“The faculty at this U show an enthusiasm for life. I think that is something that is very, very special.”

• Andrea Chuby, elementary education student —“Understanding that all of these people coming to you have different ways of learning is very important.”

• Ellen Culler, graduate student—“Something that makes a good teacher is to be a permanent learner. You have to continually realize there are new things out there to learn.”

Jason Staples, educational leadership doctoral student, commented about his experiences as both a teacher and a student

Foreign Languages professor Michael Lastinger thanked the excellent mentors his daughter had as a student at WVU

James Bailey, junior political science major, who said a mentor is someone who recognizes students are not understanding something and works and works to get his or her students to understand a concept

Raj Shenoy, School of Dentistry student, talked about mentors he has found in the School of Dentistry

President Garrison closed the forum, saying, “It certainly has been my privilege to be here in this room with you tonight. I think we all know what great faculty we have here, but it was my intention to stop and celebrate it, to talk about it, to memorialize it as a University, and I think we should do that more as a University.”

More Photos

We hope you will be able to attend today’s gathering at the Mountainlair’s Vandalia Lounge at 10:30 a.m.

If not, you may view the live webcast. Quicktime is required to view video and can be downloaded at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.

As you watch, you may leave comments by clicking “Reply to article” below.

President Mike Garrison opened today’s gathering by briefly summarizing the last several months of forums and conversations from his blog. People all around the state have joined in the conversation, both online and in person.

The theme of this week’s inauguration events is “Coming Home,” a theme that really resonates with those connected to the University, said President Garrison.

“This pride, this sense of belonging makes us unique,” he said.

President Mike Garrison

One of the many events planned in conjunction with Friday’s inauguration ceremony was a “Coming Home” student writing contest organized by Professor James Harms in the Department of English. More than 100 entries were submitted, and from those, five winners were selected.

“We tried to pick just four, but at the last minute I got permission from the President’s office to select five,” Harms said, praising the quality of the entries received.

Professor James Harms

Four of the five winners are in attendance today to read excerpts from their selections: Holt Barnitz, English major; Brian Elliott, multidisciplinary studies major; Kathleen Naglee, history major; and Daniel Summers, English major. Professor Harms read from the fifth winning submission written by sport management major Kirk Madsen.

“Do others of you have thoughts of this University as home, or your own thoughts on Homecoming week?” President Garrison asked. “How many here were not born in West Virginia? How do you think of Morgantown or WVU as your home?”

Maria Yester, Director, Center for Executive Education, College of Business and Economics

Among those speaking about their relationship with the University was Maria Yester, director of the Center for Executive Education in the College of Business and Economics, who said she began and hopes to end her career at WVU.

“WVU is a place where lives are changed….While I have had opportunities to go elsewhere, I felt that my role and impact I would make would not be as great as they are here,” she said.

In closing, President Garrison invited the audience to record their own “Coming Home” videos in the Umoja Room in the Student Organization Wing of the Mountainlair, or to submit their stories and videos online.

The Aug. 27 open forum was held at 7 p.m. in the Mountainlair’s Vandalia Lounge, with Mindy Walls, director of the WVU College of Business and Economics’ Entrepreneurship Center, moderating the discussion.

If you were unable to attend, you can watch the webcast. You must have QuickTime 7 (free download) installed on your computer to view the webcast.

The following is a live blog from the Aug. 27 forum.

President-elect Garrison opened tonight’s forum by thanking those in attendance for coming out on such a beautiful evening.

“By now, you’re familiar with the idea of these forums,” he said. “We wanted to have one specifically after the students had a chance to come back. Of course, the forum is open to anyone. We’re going to try to keep it focused on student issues tonight – what brought you here and what has kept you here as a student, and, for new students, how your first week has been.”





Moderator Mindy Walls started the conversation asking audience members what it meant for WVU to be a student-centered university and what the University could do to be more student-centered.





The forum participant above said as a student-centered University, WVU should continue to value the opinions of students, “Students are your most powerful lobbyists when they come to you,” she said. “You have to listen to the students and keep what they’re saying in the forefront of your mind.”

Walls also asked students and other members of the crowd about their concerns and suggestions for improvement.

Concerns

• Disappearing green space
• Traffic
• Parking
• Reliability of public transportation
• Weather-related PRT problems
• Local air quality
• Condition of older residence halls
• Student ticketing system for football games

Suggestions

• Use text messaging to get critical information to students
• Re-evaluate pedestrian access to Oglebay Hall
• Keep the library open 24/7
• Use better approach for regional planning in northcentral West Virginia
• Involve students more in decision-making process (e.g., more focus groups)

In conclusion, President-elect Garrison thanked forum participants for joining the conversation and assured them that it would not be the last time to voice their suggestions and concerns. “I want to thank you for coming out. Even though this is the seventh forum we’ve had, this is not the last and only opportunity that we will have as an administration and that you will have as a University community to talk.

“If no other message goes forward from these forums, I want the message to be that we are very receptive and accessible and open to what it is you have to say, and we want to hear it. A big part of leadership is listening, and we’re trying to do that.”

More Forum Photos

View the WVU Tech forum webcast

Today’s open forum is set for 1 p.m. in the Engineering Auditorium on the campus of WVU Institute of Technology.

Dr. L. Christopher Plein, chair and associate professor of WVU’s Division of Public Administration, will host the discussion.

If you were unable to attend, you can watch a video of the forum. You must have QuickTime 7 (free download) installed on your computer to view the webcast.

As you are watching, feel free to leave a comment by clicking “Reply to this Article” below.