As the leaves in Morgantown begin to fall and we enter a season of gratitude, it’s easy to enjoy the beauty of our campus while reflecting on the incredible progress taking place here at West Virginia University. While this season always seems to remind us of what we are most grateful for, I can genuinely share that I feel lucky year-round to be a part of the Mountaineer family, seeing first-hand the transformations occurring on-campus and beyond that are sure to have a lifelong impact on our students and alumni.
Soon, WVU will launch the very first Purpose Institute on any college campus, allowing alumni to explore and discover their passions and purpose. I can’t wait to see the impact this will have on Mountaineers of all ages as they reconnect with their individual purpose through newly awakened possibilities.
I am especially excited about the strengthened partnership between WVU and the Alumni Association, and the opportunities it will bring for our alumni. Through this alliance, we will be working more closely together to enhance the alumni experience, expand networking and fellowship, build connections with students and young alumni, and foster a culture of inclusivity among all who love WVU.
Students will soon participate in Project 168, a self-paced co-curricular experience that empowers them to dedicate more of the 168 hours in each week to learn in new ways outside of the classroom. Students will receive a co-cocurricular transcript to accelerate preparedness for their career, graduate school, or other aspirational endeavors. As they transition from students to alumni, we’ll be ready to connect them with fellow Mountaineers to help launch the next steps in their lives.
As alumni visit campus from near and far, they can marvel at the progress of the state-of-the-art Reynolds Hall, the newly reintroduced College of Applied Human Sciences, the warmth of the Erickson Alumni Center, and the palpable positive outcomes of WVU’s ongoing academic transformation. It’s one of the best aspects of my job to see WVU through the eyes of our alumni as we welcome them back to their Mountaineer community; and in this season of gratitude, it is both an honor and a blessing to serve you and our alma mater.
Let's Go!
Kevin Berry (’94; ’95)
Associate Director
WVU Alumni Association