WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., April 5, 2024 – WLU’s Center for Arts & Education celebrated its 10th anniversary this semester with a luncheon in the R. Emmett Boyle Conference Center on April 4 to commemorate the decade of art and creativity in Main Hall.
With support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, The Center for Arts and Education was formed in 2011 as a collaboration between the Appalachian Education Initiative, the College of Education, and the College of Arts and Communication at West Liberty University. The two colleges wanted to do more across their programs together, and after numerous conversations about what that could look like, The Center of Arts and Education emerged.
In the fall of 2013, work began to convert the university’s former business office in Main Hall into a physical, creative space for the center. In the spring of 2014, the center was open to the campus.
The initial mission of the center was to provide innovative professional development programs, resources, and services to educators, students, teaching artists, and others interested in the role of the arts and creativity in Pre-K to 12th-grade education.
Today, the Center for Arts and Education serves as a resource for the entirety of the campus community. Resources in the center include a copy machine, a poster machine, two Macintosh desktop computers, a laminator, sewing machines, and a variety of craft items.
“I often describe the center as part makerspace, learning laboratory, resource center, and co-working space. Though, it’s also important to me that students feel welcomed and supported. It can be as simple as getting materials for a class assignment, to students coming in and playing with legos,” said Center for Arts and Education Director Lou Karas.
“What is also interesting in trying to describe the center is that we do work in the community with schools in the tri-state area,” she added.
Students across campus can use the center’s wide variety of resources. For resident assistants, the center helps them laminate door tags and print posters— for education majors, the center offers field hours by working different programs for schools in the area. For others, it’s a space to host club events or recreation.
“The center is a great resource for students and faculty alike. Lou Karas does an amazing job at creating an entertaining, educational, and recreational environment for everyone,” said Billy Gooch, a WLU education major and resident assistant.
“The Center for Arts and Education has been an invaluable resource for me, especially for the Crochet Club. We have fostered such a great community on campus, and I cannot thank Lou Karas and the Graduate Assistants enough for their dedication and support,” said Mattelyn Lamp, WLU sophomore and Crochet Club president.
Although the center originated from a collaboration between colleges, Karas emphasizes that they work with all colleges and departments across campus. “You don’t have to be in a particular program to utilize this space,” she said. Looking ahead, Karas hopes to continue growing the center and catering to the needs of students.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students’ aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.