WVUToday on the Radio

Shauna Johnson: This is West Virginia University. Each school day, university school counseling interns are taking their training into more than 18 public schools in nine counties and districts in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, serving close to 10,000 students. Alaina Schrader, a lecturer with the School of Education and Counseling in the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences says those interns are doing important work.

Alaina Schrader: I think a lot of people are familiar with the idea of individual counseling. Yes, school counselors do that, but they also do things for all students. They provide school-wide initiatives. They do small group counseling. They're a part of collaboration with teachers and staff and deciding about what supports come into play when students are needing different things.

Shauna Johnson: What makes an effective school counselor?

Alaina Schrader: I think good school counselors are, of course, passionate, compassionate, caring individuals, very creative, ambitious, self-starters, not afraid to hop in there and do something. Not afraid to be themselves, being authentic and aligned with who they are.

Shauna Johnson: Brynn Benson, a first year Master's of School Counseling student from Scranton, Pennsylvania will be working in schools starting next year.

Brynn Benson: I am just so excited to help all kinds of students with all kinds of things, whether that be social emotional skills up until what they might want to do with their own futures. At the end of the day, students need support and school counselors are there to grant that support. Having administrations that invest in school counselors increase the support of students overall.

Shauna Johnson: Schrader says research shows when school counselors are appropriately staffed in schools, students do better.

Alaina Schrader: Our national organization recommends that there be one school counselor for every 250 students, and the national average is sitting at like 464. So, school counselors are responsible for way more students than is really possible to provide good care for. And so, people advocating in their local districts for more school counselors and more funding really make a huge difference.

Shauna Johnson: Recognized in February, National School Counseling Week highlights the critical roles school counselors play in supporting students' academic success, mental health, career development, and overall wellbeing. The main message, according to Benson.

Brynn Benson: We are all out here doing the best we can with what we have, and there needs to be more of us.

Shauna Johnson: So, let's go. Follow our stories at wvutoday.wvu.edu.

Shauna Johnson: This is West Virginia University. After years of traveling to and through West Virginia, the incoming provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Beverly Wendland is already a fan of the home of West Virginia University.

Beverly Wendland It's just such a beautiful state and a beautiful place and the people are wonderful and warm and what's not to love.

Shauna Johnson: Hired by President Michael T. Benson to serve as the university's Chief Academic Officer. Wendland, a cell biologist with experience as a faculty member, department chair, dean and provost says there are a couple of reasons why she wanted the job.

Beverly Wendland: First, just the university itself and the amazing foundations of strength that it has to build from. As I engaged with the search process, I was amazed at all of the incredible things that are happening here at WVU, and I wanted to be a part of that. And then the second thing was President Benson. He is an amazing leader. I have heard wonderful things about him and I couldn't be more excited to join his leadership team.

Shauna Johnson:: Her position is a key one.

Beverly Wendland: The academics are the heart of a university. It's the faculty, it's the students, it's the programs that are offered. To be responsible for all of that is a huge honor and a big responsibility that I'm excited to take on.

Shauna Johnson: After most recently serving as provost and a senior advisor at Washington University in St. Louis, Wendland's already engaging with members of the WVU community ahead of her official start date on July 1st.

Beverly Wendland: I want them to know that I am an approachable person. I want to know what they think and what they're worried about and how I can help them. I am so looking forward to becoming a part of this community.

Shauna Johnson: So let's go. Follow our stories at wvutoday.wvu.edu.

Shauna Johnson: This is West Virginia University. To mark National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we'd like to introduce you to two officers with the WVU Police Department, starting with Sgt. Mark Vero.

Mark Vero: Well, not only do we have to enforce state and local laws, we have our own campus policies that we have to enforce to the students as well.

Shauna Johnson: First hired in 2020, Sgt. Vero left university police in 2022 before returning two years later. He was recently promoted to a supervisory role. What does he like best about being a police officer?

Mark Vero: It's the camaraderie with people you work with and being able to hopefully make a positive impact in someone's life.

Jaden Leftwich: Hi, I'm Officer Jaden Leftwich, and I'm from Huntington, West Virginia.

Shauna Johnson: A WVU graduate with a degree in criminology, Officer Leftwich first saw positive interactions between UPD officers and students during his time as a student, when he originally started out wanting to be an athletic trainer.

Jaden Leftwich: Went and did schooling for that and realized it wasn't the field I was meant to be in. I'm more of a people person. With this job, I have the ability to help people when they're in need, and I feel like that was a calling I've always had within me. So I gave it a shot and here we are.

Shauna Johnson: Officer Leftwich says he likes UPD's community-oriented approach.

Jaden Leftwich: Best part of my job is being able to be there for people when they need somebody to be there. Having been a former student, I understand that college is overwhelming sometimes, especially when you're away from home. I get that aspect. And being able to relate with some of the students on that level is pretty cool.

Shauna Johnson: His advice to members of the university community?

Jaden Leftwich: You don't have to always call us when you're having a bad day. We're always available. Being able to be human behind the badge is one of the biggest things that I preach, and being able to show that is pretty important to me.

Shauna Johnson: Sgt. Vero agrees.

Mark Vero: We're here to help the students in the best ways possible. We're not here to get them in trouble. We're just here to hope... hopefully they have a nice, safe four years here at school.

Shauna Johnson: Overseeing the department is Chief Sherry St. Clair. To Chief St. Clair, Sgt. Vero, Officer Leftwich, and everyone with the WVU Police Department, the university community says thank you. So, let's go. Follow our stories at wvutoday.wvu.edu.