Photo by Alex Wilson.
By Blair Dowler
In celebration of those who have relocated to West Virginia, embraced our beloved state and now help us work toward a brighter future, Talent Transplant recognizes those who have adopted our Mountain Mama as their own.
When Javier Reyes accepted the position of Milan Puskar Dean of the West Virginia University (WVU) College of Business and Economics (B&E), he did not simply take on a new a role at the state’s largest land grant institution—he discovered a new home in the Mountain State and a passion for helping move West Virginia forward.
“The reason I made West Virginia my home is because it needs help, and it’s the kind of place where you can do something meaningful,” says Reyes. “I didn’t come here because the situation is bad. I came because there are people who want to change the situation and the narrative. You don’t want to go work in a place where you’re going to be the only voice for change. If the mindset was not one of ‘We’re ready to move the state forward,’ then it wouldn’t work.”
Joining the Mountaineer Family
Reyes knew when he met the WVU administration—including President Gordon Gee; Provost Joyce McConnell; Vice Provost John Campbell; and Gene Cilento, dean of the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources—that this was the right team for him.
“I could instantly see this was a team I wanted to be part of,” he says. “I think I came to West Virginia and adopted it because I saw that there are hardworking, passionate people who want to make a positive impact on this beautiful state and innovate and take back the narrative, showing the rest of the world all the state has to offer.”
It wasn’t just a dean position at the state’s flagship school or the opportunity to be part of an incredible team that drew Reyes to West Virginia. The Mountain State also happened to be the perfect fit for the entire Reyes family. It didn’t take long for Reyes’ wife, Maritza, and their two sons, Javi and Diego, to call West Virginia home.
“The boys were concerned about leaving their friends and their school, but when you’re raising a family, you want to prepare them for the future,” says Reyes. “We explained why this change would be good for them and how they would have the opportunity to make new friends while staying connected with their old friends. When Javi and Diego traveled here to visit, they met with a group of student ambassadors at the middle and high schools, and they felt so welcomed. When Maritza and the boys met President Gee, he was so kind to them. Everyone continued to reiterate that they wanted my entire family to feel at home. We’ve been to Texas and Arkansas, but we’ve never felt more welcomed than we have here in West Virginia.”
Building Blocks for Success
While Reyes relocated here in 2016, his journey to West Virginia began long ago. From a young age, Reyes, a native of Mexico City, Mexico, had a natural sense of curiosity and an appreciation for math and statistics, which led him to major in economics. He wanted to use his inquisitive nature and knack for math and statistics to make an impact and affect people’s lives. A life in academia was the ideal pathway, so he went on to earn a Ph.D. in economics.
Over the course of 13 years at the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business, Reyes continued to evolve, question and hone his passion. It was there he realized how much he enjoyed working with students. By the spring of 2016, he was balancing three roles: vice provost for distance education, associate dean for undergraduate studies and executive education and full-time professor in the business school’s economics department.
Reyes’ desire to engage with students and create meaningful change is what led him to WVU. In less than two years, he has taken on the role of Mountaineer and true West Virginian. When he speaks about the state, he naturally says “we”—never “you.” As dean, he has made waves at the business college with his motto of doing things differently, revitalizing the college’s commitment to experiential learning, fostering entrepreneurship and advancing economic growth in the state and beyond. And at the heart of it all lies the students.
“My colleagues and I can always agree on one thing: we are here to create bigger and better opportunities for the students because if they are successful, they will create successful communities here in West Virginia and around the world,” he says. “What sets our students apart is the preparation we provide them. They are honing their skills by working in real-life situations and solving real problems for real West Virginia businesses. We also want our students to achieve a global mindset, experiencing other cultures through study abroad opportunities.”
Moving West Virginia Forward
With the drive to influence and cultivate change, Reyes has consistently echoed Gee’s message that one of WVU’s key responsibilities is to help the residents of Almost Heaven. His bold adventure of moving to the Appalachian region and his analytical nature are subtle nods to Reyes’ high-energy, versatile and hard-working leadership style and way of life. He is often out and about, attending meetings with alumni and industry professionals, participating in strategic planning sessions for the new B&E building complex and engaging with WVU’s innovative business students and young entrepreneurs.
His background in economics has also allowed him to serve as a chief advocate and leader for West Virginia Forward, the collaborative initiative between WVU, Marshall University and the West Virginia Department of Commerce to advance the state’s economic future. Reyes recognizes the state’s opportunities to become just as—if not more—economically diverse and financially stable as the country’s current top-ranking states.
With the high-caliber faculty and staff, he says the business college is a key player in that future. These experts are spearheading forward-thinking, life-changing and industry-shaping endeavors.
“We sit right now in a place that has been identified as a location where we can create a secondary site for our energy and petrochemicals,” says Reyes. “But we have to innovate, which to me is the most exciting component. We have to create new technology, infrastructure and methods. The worst thing we could do is adopt a dated technology that doesn’t fit who we are. As we go through this transformation, we must find ways to be more effective, efficient and productive. We need to seize this opportunity and set the road map that will transform the state. And we have people that want to help us do that.”
A Match Made in Almost Heaven
While Reyes came to West Virginia with an outsider’s view, he held a bright outlook on the state that has not changed. His Mexican heritage and diverse background are part of who he is, and with it he brings a fresh perspective to the table, encouraging a diverse and inclusive student body as well as a diverse and inclusive business community.
“Diversity and inclusion are at the core of our WVU values,” he says. “But I believe it is also vitally important to understand why. It’s not just because it brings different ideas to the table. It’s because by understanding we all have different ideas and opinions, whether agreeing or disagreeing, we learn to live with, work with and respect each other.”
Looking back over the last two years, Reyes believes his intuition and decision to put his faith in the land of “Country Roads” were spot on.
“After two years of being here, this state still provides tremendous connectivity across the board,” he says. “Whoever you want to meet, whoever you want to work with—you can get connected, sit down and get to work. People do have an interest, and I think it’s because we all have a common denominator. We want to work together to make a positive impact on West Virginia.”
