Dr. Ed Welch, the president of University of Charleston (UC), is many things to many people. To faculty and staff at UC, he is the energy and vision that keeps the university moving forward. To students, he is a friend who joins them in the cafeteria for lunch to catch up on campus life.
West Virginia’s industries are evolving, and accompanying this progress is a host of new and unique needs within the state’s business community. With the growth and shifts in dynamics, more jobs are available, raising the question of how the state will supply a large enough work force to get the work done. As the demands of the world market expand and technology continues to change, the creation of specialized jobs is producing an immediate need for specialized training.
Across West Virginia, young people are aiming for greatness. Many of them are considering futures in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, which helps lay a strong foundation for West Virginia’s economic future. According to a 2011 senior opinion survey by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC), most students in West Virginia who plan to pursue a degree in a STEM field were strongly prepared for postsecondary education.
Hinton, WV is perched beautifully at the intersection of the New, Greenbrier and Bluestone rivers. It is also sitting at the intersection of the past, present and future of West Virginia.
While our mountains are believed to create a protective barrier around our great state, the winds of change are no more a stranger to West Virginia than anywhere else. Industries, work force needs and education—everything is evolving at a rapid pace to meet demands of the global market. The entire health care system, from design to delivery of services and even the discovery of new treatments, seems to be in perpetual motion. New technology to improve communications, manufacturing and education are introduced every day.
Keith Burdette has been a public servant for West Virginia since the age of 23. He began by serving two terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates before being elected as the youngest State Senate president in the state’s history at 34.