WEST LIBERTY, Sept. 2, 2015 — Another academic year has begun and new employees can be seen on the Hilltop performing their duties of educating students and serving the needs of students.
New faculty members include:
Sarah Brammer, assistant professor and academic coordinator of Physician Assistant Studies Master’s Program. Brammer is an alumna of WLU, with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. She also has clinical experience with Ohio Valley Asthma and Allergy Institute.
Dr. William “Joe” Greathouse, assistant professor of biology. Dr. Greathouse earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, master’s in wildlife fisheries resource management and a doctoral degree in animal and nutritional sciences from West Virginia University. Most recently he was director of wildlife ecology at The Wilds (Ohio) and prior to that he was a curator of animals at Oglebay Resort’s Good Zoo. He also has teaching experience at WVU.
Karen McClain, assistant professor of nursing. McClain earned a master’s of nursing degree from Wheeling Jesuit University. Most recently she was the administrator of the Brooke County Health Department and director of wellness services at Bethany College. She has extensive experience as a professional clinical nurse and has served as an adjunct faculty member at Wheeling Jesuit and other regional institutions of higher education.
Stephanie Meredith, assistant professor of dental hygiene. A graduate of WLU’s dental hygiene program, Meredith also earned a master’s in dental hygiene at WVU. She has extensive clinical experience and has served as a clinical instructor and adjunct faculty member for WLU in the past.
Amy Spurrier, assistant professor of nursing. Spurrier has completed a master’s of nursing education and is currently enrolled in a doctoral nursing practice program at Capella University. Most recently, she was a member of the nursing faculty at Wheeling Jesuit University. She also has worked at various Ohio Valley locations as both a nurse and nursing instructor.
Dr. Robert Wetzel, assistant professor of physician assistant studies. A medical doctor, Wetzel earned his MD at Drexel University. He has been in private practice as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Martins Ferry, Ohio, since 1998. Dr. Wetzel also has been the medical director of the Health Plan since 2014. He previously taught as an adjunct at WLU and served as an assistant clinical professor at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
New staff members include:
Jeffrey Campbell, head men’s and women’s track and cross country coach. This newly created full-time position consolidates two part-time positions. Campbell is a 2007 graduate of Fairmont State, with a degree in exercise science. During his time at Fairmont State, he was a four-year starter and captain of the rugby team and competed with the Fairmont Track Club. After two years as assistant track coach at North Marion High School, he entered the collegiate ranks in 2009 as head track coach at Montgomery College in Rockville, Md. Campbell came to WLU as an assistant coach in 2011 and helped develop five All-Conference standouts. His most recent position was as head track and field coach at Johnson & Wales University, in North Miami, Fla.
Emily Fisher, director of accounting. Fisher earned her undergraduate degree in business administration with specialization in accounting at WLU and a master’s in accounting at Liberty University, Va. Most recently she worked at Easter Seals, Wheeling as chief financial officer.
Courtney Forsch, data manager for the College of Education. Forsch earned her bachelor’s in elementary education from WLU. She is pursuing a master’s in special education and reading at WLU. Previously she student taught with Ohio and Marshall County schools.
Kateryna Forynna, developmental advising specialist. Forynna earned a master’s in world languages, literature and linguistics at WVU. She has a second master’s degree in applied linguistics from Chrekasy State Technological University (Ukraine) where she also earned her undergraduate degree in English language and literature. Prior to this she worked at Wheeling Jesuit University as an instructor with the English Language Institute (ELI) program. Before that she was a graduate assistant with the student affairs office at WVU that focused on assessment and student success.
Kimberley Fox, housing area manager. She earned her bachelor’s in music education and special education at Mansfield University (Pa.), she also earned a master’s in organizational leadership at Mansfield. Previously, Fox was a graduate assistant at Mansfield University, working in the housing, dining and residence life department.
Richard Gardner, landscape worker. Gardner joins WLU’s Physical Plant this fall as a new employee. Prior to this he worked for Total Lawn Care, Wintersville, Ohio. He is a graduate of Wheeling Park High School.
Katrina Hyde, director of purchasing. Hyde earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in economics from Marshall University and is currently completing her MBA at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Most recently she was employed at West Virginia Northern Community College in accounts payable.
Mitchell Moon, records assistant II. Moon earned a bachelor’s of music degree at WLU and is currently completing graduate work in the master’s in education program. Previously he worked at Olive Garden, at its Highlands Shopping Complex location
Savannah Moore, administrative secretary. Moore earned a degree in communications and broadcasting at WLU plans to begin her graduate studies at WLU soon. Previously she worked at A-1 Roofs as a secretary and served as an intern at WTRF-7 news. She also worked for the WLTV-14 TV crew all four years while she attended West Liberty
Kacie Murray, regional admissions representative. Murray graduated from WLU this past May with a bachelor’s in public relations. She formerly served as an intern in the media relation’s office and also worked as an ambassador in the admissions office. Murray has additional experience working on the phone-a-thon and in the office of institutional advancement. She also was an Energy Express (Americorps) mentor in Salem, W.Va.
Mitch Smith, head wrestling coach. Former West Liberty University wrestling All-American and assistant coach, Smith returned to WLU after spending the past three seasons as the founding head wrestling coach at Alderson-Broaddus. Smith was a high school mat legend at Ripley High School, winning three state championships. He also won a pair of USA Wrestling national freestyle titles before heading off to NCAA Division I Hofstra (N.Y.) University to begin his collegiate wrestling career. After two seasons at Hofstra, he transferred to WLU for his final two years and earned NCAA Division II All-America honors in 2009 and 2010. He was ranked No. 1 in the nation at his weight at some point in each of his two years with the Hilltoppers. He also served two seasons as Hilltoppers assistant wrestling coach, prior to his position at Alderson-Broaddus.
West Liberty University employs approximately 315 fulltime employees and is a forward-looking, four-year public university steeped in a rich heritage as West Virginia’s oldest institution of higher education. Five colleges and a School of Professional Studies offer more than 60 majors and 30 programs in two locations, the Main Campus and the Highlands Center Campus. Graduate programs include the Master of Arts in Education, the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and the Master of Professional Studies degrees. For more information on WLU, please call 1.866.WESTLIB.