Program to launch Fall 2015

PHILIPPI, W.Va. – Alderson Broaddus University is pleased to announce the addition of a bachelor’s degree in ministry and leadership. The announcement was made on Thursday, March 26 in front of the campus’s iconic Wilcox Chapel. This is the third newest academic program to be announced in the past two months.

The new Ministry and Leadership major will help connect students who are interested in going into ministry with modern day situations.

“We tried to look at the individual courses and which ones would be most advantageous to students preparing to go into ministry in today’s culture, today’s time; and leadership seemed to be a theme that resonated,” said AB Religion Professor Danny Franke.

This major is designed so that the graduate will be academically prepared to use their learning for seminary and/or graduate school or employment in church leadership. The curriculum includes a strong core in traditional religion courses along with a choice of modern concentrations. One of these is sports ministry.

“Sports play a huge part in our culture today, and holds an important place for ministry leadership,” said Franke. “Course such as Integration of Faith and Sports and Sports Chaplaincy will be taught.”

Sports chaplaincy is a relatively new area of chaplaincy. In addition to chaplaincy in general, students will pay particular attention to the needs and opportunities relevant to sports chaplaincy.

The courses are designed to help the sportsperson to re-examine how to think about, inhabit, and practice sports. In particular, how Christians critically understand and practically relate to the culture of sports. They will also address and assesses the different models of sports ministry and chaplaincy. Students will learn how to bring their knowledge and skills to bear on social, moral and personal problems unique to the sports culture.

The University has also developed a minor in ministry and leadership which can be combined with other existing majors to provide additional resources such as critical thinking, religious and philosophical values, and practical leadership.

Alderson Broaddus University is continuing to work on adding more academic initiatives, which will be announced in the near future.

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Local Authors to Present Reading of Creative Works on April 8, 2015

PHILIPPI, W.Va. – Several local authors will present a reading of their creative works at Alderson Broaddus University on Wednesday, April 8, at 7 p.m. “An Evening with Appalachian Writers” will showcase emerging authors from the surrounding region. The reading will be followed by a short question and answer panel.

The reading will include works of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction that portray a deep admiration and respect for the Appalachian landscape and its people.

The following authors will participate:

An alumnus of Alderson Broaddus University and a graduate of the MFA program at West Virginia Wesleyan College, Daniel Propst is an adjunct lecturer in English at Alderson Broaddus University. He lives in Philippi with his wife, Jeni, and son, Alan. Propst writes in a variety of genres, but focused primarily upon fiction during his graduate career.

Shauna Hambrick Jones, a graduate of the MFA program at West Virginia Wesleyan College, has had her work published in several journals. She lives in Buckhannon, W.Va., and respectfully reminds people that W.Va. is its own state, not part of Va. any longer. Her favorite spots to read are in or near bodies of water: baths, rivers, lakes, oceans.

A 2015 graduate of the MFA program at West Virginia Wesleyan College, Danielle Kelly began her MFA journey at Southern Connecticut State University before returning to WVWC to complete the degree. She lives in Beverly, W.Va., where she works as an adjunct instructor of English at Davis & Elkins College. Her poetry can be found in Deep Water Literary Journal.

An alumna of Alderson-Broaddus College, Allison Pugh now writes for The Barbour Democrat in Philippi, W.Va. She is currently finishing the MFA degree in fiction at West Virginia Wesleyan. A story by Pugh was a finalist in the 2012 West Virginia Fiction Competition at Shepherd University. Pugh is originally from Tucker County, W.Va., but now calls Philippi home.

Jessica Spruill is a candidate in the MFA program at West Virginia Wesleyan College. She earned a BA in English from Alderson Broaddus University in 2011. Raised among the woods and creeks of Philippi, W.Va., Spruill has a deep love for all things rural and muddy. She currently resides in Glenville, W.Va.

The reading will be held on Wednesday, April 8, at 7 p.m. in 206 Withers-Brandon Hall at Alderson Broaddus University. Admission is free. Everyone, including the public, is welcome to attend.

PHILIPPI, W.Va. – The Alderson Broaddus University Acrobatics & Tumbling team and the community service organization, NOVO, are teaming up together to give back to the young women in Barbour County. The groups will be hosting the annual Cinderella’s Closet on Friday, March 27, 2015, at 7 p.m. at the Garden Market, located across from Rite Aid in downtown Philippi.

Students and community members of AB have donated their gently used formal/prom dresses to give young women the chance to feel like Cinderella for a night. . Throughout the evening the Acrobatics and Tumbling team and NOVO will also be talking about body image and self-esteem.

“This is a good way to educate and encourage the young girls to embrace who they are and love themselves inside and out,” said Katie Nunley, Acrobatics and Tumbling student-athlete and coordinator of the event.

Young women in Barbour County are encouraged to stop by and pick out a dress for their formal dance or prom. Cost is on a donation basis, so participants can pick a dress and pay whatever amount they can afford.

The following morning, Saturday, March 28, all community members are invited to attend an Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by NOVO, on the campus of Alderson Broaddus University.

Registration for ​the Easter Egg Hunt will ​take place in Hamer Campus Center starting at 11 am ​with ​festivities begin​ning​ at 11:30 am. ​Afterwards, community members are also encouraged to attend the final Acrobatics and Tumbling home meet Saturday afternoon beginning at 1:00PM in Rex Pyles Arena.

PHILIPPI, W.Va. – The Alderson Broaddus University School of Music proudly presents a chamber concert on Friday, March 27, at 7:30pm in Wilcox Chapel. The concert is free and open to the public.

The evening of chamber music will feature the woodwind ensembles, brass ensembles, and vocal quartets.

The woodwind ensembles are directed by Mr. Christopher McDerment; the brass ensembles are led by Dr. Timothy DeWitt; and the vocal quartets are under the conduction of Mr. Lewis Hall.

For more information on the School of Music, please visit: www.ab.edu.

Justice Brent Benjamin of the West Virginia Court of Appeals on Campus, March 23, 2015

PHILIPPI, W.Va. – Justice Brent Benjamin of the West Virginia Court of Appeals is visiting Alderson Broaddus University March 23rd at 5:30 p.m on the fourth floor of Burbick Hall. This event is organized by the Alderson Broaddus Political Science Association. The community is welcome to attend; this event is free and open to the public.

Justice Benjamin is coming to speak at AB to advise local college students on how to succeed in law school and beyond. Support for the youth of West Virginia is not unusual for Justice Benjamin; the Justice has been a prominent figure in the fight against physical and sexual abuse of children and has instrumental in the establishment and expansion of drug and treatment courts throughout the state

He is also a long-time supporter educating both practitioners and the common man about the judicial system; Justice Benjamin is an active presenter on judicial education, with speaking engagements that have included the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting, the National Press Club in Washington D.C., the International Association of Defense Counsel, and most recently, to prosecutors and judges in Ankara and Antalya, Turkey, at the invitation of the Republic of Turkey.

Justice Benjamin was elected to a 12-year term on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia in November 2004. He served as Chief Justice in 2009 and 2013. His previous history includes working as an attorney with Robinson and McElwee in Charleston.

Justice Benjamin will be introduced by Dr. Martha Phelps, assistant professor of political science and the faculty advisor for the Political Science Association at Alderson Broaddus University. Dr. Phelps was recently named an honorary coach of Alderson Broaddus’ Wrestling program for her support and encouragement of student-athletes’ excellence in academics. She also recently released an article in the academic journal Politics & Policy entitled “Doppelgangers of the State: Private Security and Transferable Legitimacy.”

Dr. Phelps led the Political Science Association on a tour of the WV State Capital, where Justice Benjamin’s office invited the students to watch the court in action.

For more information about the event contact Dr. Martha Phelps via e-mail at phelpsml@ab.edu or by calling (304) 457-6330.

For information about Alderson Broaddus University or additional media queries please contact Ashley Mittelmeier at mittelmeierae@ab.edu.

Justice Benjamin’s bio can be found at http://www.courtswv.gov/supreme-court/current-justices/justice-benjamin.html.

Dr. Phelps’ recent article can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12100/abstract.

Photos available upon request.