WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Feb. 25, 2021 — West Liberty University will soon host the first collegiate chapter of WELD, a national organization that promotes economic and leadership development for women.

“We are thrilled to welcome Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD) to campus, as we introduce this valuable association to our community,” said Ingrid Loy, a WLU marketing instructor in the Gary E. West College of Business.

Loy will serve as a faculty advisor to the WLU WELD chapter. Other advisors include Sherry Rocchio and Tina Dewitt, both also faculty in the College of Business. Student representatives will be announced at the March 10 virtual launch event.

• Launch takes place on Zoom from 3 – 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 10

The WLU WELD Chapter is open to all students, faculty and staff of WLU, both men and women.

This launch also will feature guest speakers: Kaeris Cicchino, a business management and marketing student from Otterbein University; Latashia Love, a law clerk at Thompson Hine LLP, and Diana Westhoff, owner of Speak 4 You, LLC.

“Our distinguished panel will share their WELD journeys and the importance of networking though professional organizations in your college career and beyond,” said Loy. 

WELD is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that aims to advance women’s leadership to strengthen the economic prosperity of the communities it serves, according to Barbara Smoot, president and chief executive officer of WELD.

“WELD provides women with specific tools and skills to enhance their individual economic status,” she said. “We want to mobilize women to become active leaders in businesses, civic organizations and government by building programs, events and communities that support leadership development and business growth.

With national headquarters listed on its webpage as Westerville, Ohio, WELD is membership-based and operated locally by volunteers supported by the national affiliation.

Upper Ohio Valley area women were invited last fall to join a WELD e-Chapter in a virtual event held in Wheeling and sponsored by the Wheeling Chamber of Commerce. It featured AEP External Affairs Manager and WLU alumna Joelle Moray.

For more information on the launch of WLU WELD, please contact Loy at ingrid.loy@westliberty.edu.