AB only Institution in West Virginia to Receive Phi Theta Kappa Honors

Jackson, Miss. – Alderson Broaddus University was one of 65 colleges and universities and the only institution in the state of West Virginia to be named to the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll, which identifies the top four-year colleges and universities for creating dynamic pathways to support community college transfers.

Honorees were selected based engagement, collaboration, impact and achievements related to the transfer of community college students as well as partnerships, support, admissions outreach, scholarships/financial aid, student engagement opportunities and institutional priorities.

“At Alderson Broaddus University, we understand the necessity of providing pathways for students to transfer with ease, whether they are transferring from a 4 year institution or a community college,” said Erika Thon, Alderson Broaddus Director of Admissions. “We are excited to be recognized by Phi Theta Kappa and hope to continue to provide students a quality transition when transferring to Alderson Broaddus.”

As part of providing pathways for transfer students, Alderson Broaddus will offer a $15,000 scholarship to all Phi Theta Kappa members that choose to enroll at AB.

Phi Theta Kappa CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner said the new recognition program reflects the growing importance of transfer in helping the U.S. achieve its college completion goals, and will promote further study and sharing of best practices.

“Increasingly, students of all ages and achievement levels are choosing the community college, not only as their first step, but also their first choice, in the pursuit of a quality, affordable bachelor’s degree,” Tincher-Ladner said. “With this designation, we hope to connect community college students with institutions who value their unique transfer experience and prioritize their success.”

Alderson Broaddus University Announces Natural Resource Management as New Undergraduate Major
AB to launch Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management in Fall of 2017

Philippi, W.Va. – Alderson Broaddus University announced Natural Resource Management as the newest addition to its undergraduate offerings. The announcement was made on Thursday, March 23, 2017 during a press conference held on the Alderson Broaddus campus.

The Natural Resource Management major is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide graduates with the ecological and managerial knowledge and ethics to maintain profitable production of a variety of natural resources.

“Students enrolled in the Natural Resource Management Program will not only gain a liberal arts education critical to effective leadership, but also develop their technical skills as ecologists and business managers,” said Dean of the College of Science, Technology and Mathematics Dr. Ross Brittain. “Students will take classes to give them a broad foundation in the natural sciences combined with courses focused on forest ecology, wildlife ecology, environmental policies and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Students will also take management and microeconomics courses to prepare them to make the difficult business decisions for which many natural resource experts have not been trained. Each student will also have the flexibility to choose one of three concentrations to develop the depth of their knowledge and prepare them for a career of their interest. The program is capped by an Internship or a research project designed to show their ability to apply their knowledge to real world resource management situations.”

An undergraduate major in Natural Resource Management continues Alderson Broaddus University’s excellence in biological and environmental sciences.

“It is an excellent fit with our other science- and business-oriented programs,” said Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Joan Propst. “Given our location in Appalachia and our surroundings, this program will give students an opportunity to stay in the Mountain State and contribute to the preservation of our natural resources with a keen eye toward policy and regulation considerations.  I am pleased that Alderson Broaddus University is able to bring this program to fruition on our campus with our environment as our classroom.”

Students who complete the Natural Resource Management degree have employment opportunities with private lumber of energy companies, public sectors like the US Forest Service or US Fish and Wildlife Service, or Division of Natural Resources or the Department of Environmental Protection at the state level or with non-profit organizations.

 

Kenneth Dean Wright, PA-C Receives National Recognition as AAPA Distinguished Fellow
Honored for Going “Above and Beyond” In Service to Community and the Profession

(Alexandria, VA) – Kenneth Dean Wright, PA-C from Huntington, West Virginia has been recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA. Mr. Wright earned this national recognition due to his outstanding contributions to patient care and the profession during his 37 year career as a Physician Assistant. He currently practices as a member of the General Surgery Team for the Veterans Hospital Administration at the Huntington VA Medical Center.

He is a graduate of the PA program at Alderson-Broaddus College and the Norwalk Hospital/ Yale University School of Medicine PA Surgical Residency Program. His career started in Wheeling, WV as the first surgical PA employed at Wheeling Hospital. As a relative pioneer in the profession, Dean developed a house staff of PAs and served as the Chief Surgical PA at that institution for 13 years. In 1994 he moved to Huntington and practiced as a Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery PA at ST. Mary’s Medical Center until 2015.

Dean has been involved in the leadership of the West Virginia Association of Physician Assistants and was recognized as The WVAPA “PA of the Year” in 1999. He was appointed by the Governor to the West Virginia Board of Medicine as the PA member on the Board and is the Chairman of the PA Committee.

He also demonstrated significant dedication and involvement in the community of Barboursville/ Huntington where he has lived for the past 23 years with his wife Judy, and their 6 children. He is a member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church and has served as its Moderator and participated in multiple church mission trips nationally and internationally.

The Distinguished Fellow program was established by AAPA in 2007 in order to recognize the exceptional contributions of PAs to the profession through professional achievement, leadership, professional interaction, learning and community service. Distinguished Fellows of AAPA, represent only two percent of the entire AAPA membership.

PAs are nationally certified and state-licensed to practice medicine in every setting and specialty. They diagnose and treat patients, order and interpret tests, assist in surgery and perform medical procedures, make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes and prescribe medications. A PA’s role may also include patient education and research. PAs are educated at the graduate level through rigorous programs modeled on the medical school curriculum and are viewed as a solution to increasing access to healthcare for the increasing number of patients entering the system.

AAPA is the national organization that advocates for all PAs and provides tools to improve PA practice and patient care. Founded in 1968, AAPA represents a profession of approximately 108,500 certified PAs across all medical and surgical specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories and the uniformed services. Visit www.aapa.org to learn
more.

AB Greek Life Attends Northeast Greek Leadership Association Conference
Tyler Benner awarded Greek Leader of Distinction

Six members of the Alderson Broaddus University Greek life community attended the Northeast Greek Leadership Association Conference from Feb. 23-25 in Hartford, Conn.

The University was represented by Hannah Jones, Lambda Sigma Phi; Katie Maddas, Phi Kappa Delta; Sara Mersing, Sigma Alpha Iota; Cody Sheets, Sigma Delta Nu; Kennedy Rankin, Zeta Eta Theta; and Adam Zirkelbach, Epsilon Tau Eta Sigma as well as Greek Life Coordinator Lexie Elliott.

The Alderson Broaddus contingent attended educational sessions and keynote addresses covering topics including: chapter management, leadership skills, and social justice. The conference consisted of over 1,000 Greek student leaders and advisors from the Northeast.

The President of All Greek Council, Tyler Benner, was awarded Northeast Greek Leadership Association “Greek Leader of Distinction” for 2017.

“Greek Life has impacted my life in the best ways,” Benner said. “I’ve built ever lasting friendships that will take me beyond my four years at AB. Also, it has strengthened my leadership and communication skills, as I have gained countless knowledge from both experience, and my peers. Being Greek has impacted me by knowing that it’s truly the betterment of the group and the community that truly matters, not the growth of individuality.”

This distinction was awarded to only 11 students in the entire northeast from other institutions such as Cornell University, Rutgers University, and University of Rhode Island.

“Tyler is a pillar in the AB Greek Community. He excels at everything in which he is involved because of his upbeat personality, dedication, and drive for success,” said Elliott. “The NGLA Greek Leader of Distinction is a recognition for the contribution Tyler has had on the All Greek Council, his fraternity, and campus. This award is to serve as a benchmark of what I hope Greek leaders strive to emulate.”

Benner is a senior Sports Management Major and Vice President of Epsilon Tau Eta Sigma. The All Greek Council is grateful to the AB Student Government Association for supporting this educational opportunity.

“This award, to me, is a reflection of all of the hard work and dedication that I have put in for both Alderson Broaddus, and my fraternity,” Benner said. “It is truly humbling to receive such an award.”

Alderson Broaddus University is home to eight Greek organizations. These eight organizations provide Alderson Broaddus students with opportunities for leadership development, community service, and fellowship.