WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Nov. 3, 2015 — Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie visited campus recently to share his knowledge with Professor Stephen Criniti’s class.

McKenzie spoke to the 18 students in the honors English course called Writing Wheeling. Mayor McKenzie, who is a WLU alumnus, explained about the development of Wheeling and changes that are now happening in the Friendly City.

Mayor Andy McKenzie (right) stopped by the president’s office after speaking to students in honors English and is shown with Interim President Dr. John P. McCullough.

“In order to make Wheeling more appealing for people it is not enough to just see a big picture. It’s the details that matter,” said McKenzie as he discussed Wheeling’s past and answered students’ questions.

“The mayor’s visit was very informative. It was meaningful to hear someone talk about the future of Wheeling. He has a lot of great ideas and I’m grateful he took the time to share his knowledge with our class,” said Kevin Stryker, a freshman from Wheeling and a sports management major.

McKenzie was the third guest speaker for the Writing Wheeling class and followed recent alumna Amanda Carney, who is the new owner of an art studio and framing store in the Centre Market neighborhood of Wheeling called Cat’s Paw Art Studio. Prior to Carney the class heard from the coordinator of adult programming at Ohio County Public Library, Sean Duffy.

Dr. Criniti implements an interactive approach in his class as a way to make it relevant and dynamic.

“It’s always a challenge to help students recognize the real-world applications of their learning, especially in a general education class. So, as my students were working on writing about Wheeling in the class, it seemed like a powerful teaching opportunity to introduce them to someone who can effect the kinds of changes in the city they were writing about. The Mayor’s visit helped to bring the so-called ‘real world’ into the classroom in a very real way,” Criniti said.

In addition to learning from the guest speakers, students gathered information for their research from participation in a field trip organized by Jeremy Morris, executive director of the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation and from the classroom discussions.

“This class is really enlightening. I learned a lot about the region’s strength,” said Callaway Barr, a freshman from Austin, Texas. Barr is pre-professional biology major, planning on going into the physician assistant program. She was recruited in her junior year of high school to join WLU athletics and plays softball for the Hilltoppers.

“I always try to build my courses around a particular theme. In this case, given that it was an honors course, I thought it might be beneficial — for both the students and the community at large — if some of our best and brightest were given an opportunity to explore, investigate, and form an overall connection with the city,” Criniti said.

Criniti joined West Liberty University as associate professor of English in 2008.

Mayor McKenzie graduated from West Liberty State College in 1992 and earned a MBA from West Virginia University. He also received an honorary doctoral degree from WLU in 2012. Besides serving as mayor, McKenzie is employed as a financial advisor and also has served as a senator with the West Virginia Legislature from 1996-2008.

“I’m grateful to all the professionals who are sharing their knowledge with these students from our Honors College. The class is both challenging and fun. The information that these leaders bring with them is perfect for this group of inquiring students,” Criniti said.

“Class has been very cool. And Mayor McKenzie, for being the mayor, was cool. He talked about a lot a stuff that was easy to relate to. He even took time to stop and talk to me individually and answer my questions,” said sophomore Shane Powell of Claysville, Pa.

WLU’s English program is housed in the Department of Humanities within the College of Liberal Arts. For complete information, please call 1.866.WESTLIB.

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