West Liberty, W. Va., June 25, 2024 – West Liberty University (WLU) Assistant Professor of Speech Pathology & Audiology Dr. Sara Alig was recently named as a “Person of Impact” during the 2nd Annual Ohio Valley Brain Ball.

The annual Brain Ball benefit raises funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. This year’s event took place June 15 at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and was presented by WVU Medicine-Wheeling Hospital. WLU’s chapter of National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) also raised $1,000 to help sponsor the event.

Dr. Alig was specifically recognized for her volunteer work with the Alzheimer’s Association along with initiating and facilitating West Liberty University’s clinic-based support group for caregivers and individuals with dementia.

“This award is well-deserved and highlights the much-needed and impactful work performed by Dr. Alig,” said WLU Dean of the College of Sciences Dr. Karen Kettler. “The Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty, staff, and graduate students in the Speech-Language and Pathology program, working in the West Liberty University Speech and Hearing Clinic, provide valuable services to the Ohio Valley and the state of West Virginia.”

Other recipients of the award included House of Delegates member Diana Winzenreid and West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) director Dr. Ali Rezai.

Winzenreid was recognized for her work on WV HB4756, a bill which created a state Alzheimer’s plan task force. Dr. Ali Rezai, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, has led WVU’s RNI in becoming one of the most respected institutions in the world for groundbreaking neuroscience treatment and research.

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.