Christin Weiss – Staff Highlight

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Meet Christin Weiss, West Virginia Junior College, and WVJC Online’s new Clinical and Lab Coordinator in the nursing program.

Christin has always had a passion for helping others, and this was apparent at even age 16 when Christin was an EMT Basic. After completing high school, Christin went on to Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA, to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. After completing her Bachelor’s Degree, Christin obtained a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education from Capella University. 

Christin has had a wide array of nursing experience in the field for the past 11 years. This is what makes her passionate about the clinical and lab experiences WVJC nursing students experience. In addition, Christin started in long-term care and worked in medical-surgical, intensive care, and emergency department areas. Christin has also worked as a travel nurse, so she understands the importance of nursing students getting a variety of experiences.

Christin began her role in nursing education six years ago for Associate Degree Nursing programs in VA and WV.  “All of the students I have taught and how they are able to make a living to provide for their families and make a difference in patients’ lives” is what makes Christin the proudest. “Through teaching, we have an amazing opportunity to help people by providing our students with our knowledge.”

Christin says, “The drive to improve education and to make it accessible and provide more opportunity for everyone to obtain a quality education” is what lead her to WVJC. One of her favorite things about working at WVJC is learning, growing, and making a difference in nursing education.

Christin is passionate about continuing her path in nursing education and hopes to expand the opportunities in nursing education with simulation, clinical, and academics. With the new innovative online nursing program that WVJC offers, Christin has the opportunity to combine all of those aspects. 

To learn more about our nursing and allied healthcare programs, visit WVJC.edu or request information here!

Shannon Davis – Staff Highlight

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Meet Shannon Davis, one of our new Career Management Directors at WVJC- Morgantown!

Shannon started her career after graduating from West Virginia University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. But like many, she realized the field of journalism wasn’t where her true passions lay. During her time at WVU, she helped to found a community service sorority on campus, Omega Phi Alpha. This is where she discovered her love for community service and her passion for being involved in the community. 

Upon graduation, she worked as an assistant preschool teacher for a local nonprofit daycare in Morgantown. Very quickly climbing the ranks, she soon became the evening person in charge and eventually took on the role of assistant director. She has also worked at Ronald McDonald House Charities previously.

Shannon has also been very active in the community throughout her career, participating in the Morgantown nonprofit community forum, volunteering as a panelist for M-Tec education program, and volunteering with the national organization of her sorority as the National Awards Coordinator. 

“I love the culture, the people, and the community of Morgantown. Moving here from out of state when I came here for college, it was truly a shock to be treated like I was part of the West Virginia family from day one.”

While she may be new to the West Virginia Junior College family and the role of a Career Management Director, she is excited about all the future prospects that come with this role. 

“I’m excited to work with students and to help them find jobs, not just in the Morgantown community but throughout the state or even multiple states for our online students. I truly do believe that networking is the backbone for anyone searching for a job,” said Shannon. “Get out into the community, be personable, and get involved, and you’ll be blown away by the possibilities that will come your way.”

Shannon will also be teaching a Career Preparation course that prepares students to create documents needed to obtain employment, such as; cover letters, resumes, thank you letters, and references. In this course, students also complete a mock interview to assist them in proper interview techniques.

Shannon enjoys many things outside of work, including camping, vacationing (specifically anywhere that has a beach), and spending time with her family and friends. 

One thing she loves about WVJC is the personalization that the campus gives to its students as a whole. It doesn’t matter if you are a student who lives in town or someone who lives hours away; the program directors, instructors, deans, and other support staff are all so hands-on in each of their students’ lives. 

“I can only hope that as I grow with the campus as a whole that I will be able to guide these students to a career that brings them joy and satisfaction. I’m driven knowing that I am directly impacting both the students’ lives and their communities. Finding a job isn’t always easy, especially when you are doing it on your own. So I am glad to be able to help make their lives a little bit easier and create a positive impact,” said Shannon.

According to Shannon, the key to success when searching for a job and interviewing is to let your personality shine. 

“While businesses are looking at your degree and qualifications when you apply for a job, a lot of people get so stuck in their head during interviews that they forget about one of the most important skills to have- your soft skills, your personality!”

Paige Maul – Staff Highlight

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Paige Maul MA, RPT, is a new instructor at West Virginia Junior College Bridgeport, beginning her career in September 2021.
Paige started as an adjunct instructor in the Medical Billing/Administration and Clinical Medical Assistant programs. She has proven her knowledge and experience to be an asset to the WVJC Bridgeport campus. She has recently accepted an offer to take over as the Traditional Medical Program Director in November. She is incredibly proud to take over this position and is overly excited about the opportunity.  Paige hopes to bring new ideas to the table and continue offering the one-on-one attention students at WVJC Bridgeport need and deserve.

Paige graduated from Fairmont State University in 2018 with her degree in Health Science, with minors in Phlebotomy, Electrocardiogram & Lab Assisting. Her passion is in phlebotomy and the challenge that comes with every patient. Before working at WVJC, she worked for Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital & WVU Medicine. She attributes her professional ethics to Angela Cedeno at SJMH & Vanessa Richter at WVU Medicine.

Ms. Maul enjoys site seeing/traveling with her boyfriend, Eric Bowles, painting, photography, and writing poetry in her free time. Some of her favorite artists/writers are Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Amanda Gorman, and Robert Frost. She is an advocate for mental health in the medical field. She states she can never stress enough to her students how important it truly is. She has overcome mental health issues herself and wants her students to understand it is possible to overcome these challenges because, at the end of the day, that is all they are, challenges, which can always be beat. One of her favorite quotes from Amanda Gorman and her book “The Hill We Climb” is,

“There is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

Ms. Maul states she loves WVJC’s programs because of their flexibility and versatility.  College clicks for most people when you realize the best parts and can branch into things that ultimately interest you in your future career. Being able to find these interests are very achievable here at WVJC.

If you are interested in learning more about our programs at WVJC, request information here!

Tammy Kaylor – Staff Highlight

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The chances are if you have not already had courses with Tammy Kaylor as a pharmacy technician student or an allied health student, you will. Tammy is a proud staff member of WVJC Online who takes great pride in sharing her knowledge and expertise with her students. Check out the video below to learn more about Tammy’s background and experience.

To learn more about WVJC Online‘s allied health programs request information here!

Anna Butcher – Staff Highlight

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“I wanted to work in this position because I enjoy working with people and helping them with the goal of creating the life they want. One of the goals I have set for myself is to be available to West Virginia Junior College Morgantown/Online students and to guide them throughout their careers while strengthening my presence in the community to allow for new partnerships that can be beneficial to all parties involved. This position allows me to teach and offer assistance to a wide variety of people and make a positive impact on their lives.”- Anna Butcher.

As the Career Management Director at West Virginia Junior College Morgantown/Online, Anna Butcher assists students and alumni with preparation for their future careers and employment. Anna teaches a Career Preparation course that prepares students to create documents needed to obtain employment, such as; cover letters, resumes, thank you letters, and references. In this course, students also complete a mock interview to assist them in proper interview techniques.

Anna says, “My main motivation is being part of the positive change happening in students’ and alumni’s lives. I enjoy being there to assist them and make the employment process a bit easier. I also enjoy helping employers find quality employees in our students and being a career matchmaker! It’s a wonderful feeling knowing your students were able to find their dream career.”

Previously, Anna worked as a case manager and counselor at a local non-profit. She offered therapy, life skills, goal setting, and utilized behavioral therapy techniques, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), to help her clients better deal with their trauma. After budget cuts due to Covid-19, Anna found her way to WVJC, where she wanted to remain in a position of helping others create a better life for themselves and their families. Anna previously was a Graduate Assistant at a university and loved the idea of combining her two passions of teaching and helping others. Anna has experience with community outreach and enjoys partnering with local businesses to offer employment opportunities to students and alumni. She feels strongly this is where she was meant to be and is happy to have the opportunity to be in a fulfilling career doing what she loves!

If you wish to learn more about career services for students and graduates at WVJC, please request information here!

Jennifer Bird – Staff Highlight

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When you walk through the doors at West Virginia Junior College in Cross Lanes, you can always expect a welcoming greeting from the administrative assistant, Jennifer Bird. In 1998, Jennifer graduated from WVJC and earned a diploma in Clerical Word Processing. Jennifer loved her caring instructors and hands-on educational experience. Shortly after graduation, she was contacted about an employment opportunity at WVJC, and she knew it would be a great fit!

Jennifer heard about college classes at WVJC in 1998 from her grandma. She said, “I remember my grandma finding an advertisement in the newspaper for classes at West Virginia Junior College. I made a phone call and completed the admissions process and started classes the next month.”

Jennifer wears many hats as WVJC’s Administrative Assistant. She offers support to students, graduates, staff, and faculty. She said, “I believe in the mission of WVJC and the best part is seeing students graduate and fulfill their dreams.” Jennifer is currently enrolled in the Business Administration degree program through WVJC Online. “I am enjoying my Introduction to Business course and my favorite part is learning how to start a business,” she says.

Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family in her spare time, working on her farm with her many animals, and horseback riding. A fun fact about Jennifer is she has 10 children, 20 dogs, 25 cows, 3 horses, 8 chickens, and 2 cats and she still greets everyone with a smile when they enter WVJC.

To learn more about WVJC, request information here!

Amanda Poling – Nursing Staff Highlight

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Amanda Poling has been employed by WVJC since December 2020 as the Clinical Coordinator for the nursing programs. She is responsible for the clinical side of both nursing programs at the Bridgeport campus. As the clinical coordinator, Amanda is responsible for developing affiliation agreements with various area hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. She ensures all students are compliant with West Virginia Board of Nursing requirements for clinical experience and schedules all clinical assignments for the practical nursing students and registered nursing students. She takes great pride in developing sound clinical experiences for the students and enjoys hearing all the stories students have from the clinical rotations.

When asked what motivates her, she had this to say, “What motivates me is hearing the excitement the students have after a wonderful clinical day. They are able to take the information and knowledge learned in the classroom and apply [it] to real patients. It gives them a sense of accomplishment when they are able to link a concept learned in the classroom to their live patient in the clinical setting.”

Prior to working at WVJC, Amanda wore many hats. She graduated from Alderson Broaddus College in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After completing her nursing degree, she worked as a pediatric oncology nurse, traveled as a pediatric oncology nurse, worked as an outpatient infusion nurse, surgical nurse, and most recently, as an assistant professor of nursing. Amanda continued her education and obtained a Master’s of Business Administration in Healthcare Management Degree in 2016 from Western Governors University, and a Master of Science in Nursing Degree from Walden University in 2017. She also recently applied to The University of Southern Mississippi’s doctoral program.

Her favorite part of working for WVJC is watching the students become successful professionals.  She also appreciates the flexibility and the wonderful administration and staff that have the same passion for seeing students succeed.

To learn more about WVJC’s nursing programs, request information here!

Sara Westbrook – Staff Highlight

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Sara Westbrook has been an employee of WVJC since April 2019.  She started as an Online Admissions Advisor where she contacted individuals requesting information on our online programs and guided potential students through the admissions, enrollment, and onboarding processes. Sara enjoyed hearing the stories of the people she supported and found it very rewarding to help people find the path to change their lives.

In October 2020, Sara transitioned into her current role of Admissions Coordinator. In this role, she works tirelessly behind the scenes supporting the Online and Morgantown admissions teams through reporting, tracking, inquiry management, and distribution, clerical support, special projects, creative designs, social media, and much more. She thoroughly enjoys working behind the scenes and supporting the admissions team. She likes the opportunity to get to know all potential and enrolled students and ensure they have everything they need for a successful start.

When asked, “What advice do you have for someone considering attending WVJC?” Sara replied, “The teams you will work with (admissions, financial aid, academic, and career services) are outstanding.  They truly care about their students and want to see them succeed.  You will definitely not feel like a number, and it’s nice to know that the faculty and staff are 100% invested in your success!”

When asked, “What advice do you have for someone considering employment with WVJC?” Sara replied, “You will feel like family from the moment you walk through the door on your first day of work.  I couldn’t ask for a better work family, as some of them have definitely become lifelong friends.”

Sara has grown personally and professionally during the past two years. She emulates our WE CARE core values every day and has proven to be a valuable resource to our staff and students.  We are thrilled to have Sara as a member of the WVJC family.

To learn more about the WVJC admissions team, request information here!

Brittany Remington – Staff Highlight

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“I took this position because I come from a background of encouraging people to reach their full potential. One of my personal goals is to help others overcome challenges. In the position of Director of Career Management, I am able to help students succeed and reach their goals.” – Brittany Remington

As the Director of Career Management at West Virginia Junior College, Brittany Remington assists WVJC students and graduates with employment opportunities. Her role is to develop long-lasting partnerships in our local community while still serving WVJC students. Brittany instructs a Career Preparation course at the end of each student’s program where she assists them in resume building, interview skills, submitting job applications, and continuing to work on their professional communication skills.

When asked what motivates her, she had this to say. “What motivates me is going through the journey with my students and seeing them reach their goal of obtaining their dream careers.”

Prior to working at WVJC, Brittany worked in mental health as a Team Lead Therapist for a school-based partial hospitalization program. She worked closely with high school students to improve their social skills and develop their personal relationships. This path led her to WVJC as a means to work in an environment that would allow her to assist students and graduates in higher education to develop professional relationships. Brittany enjoys the element of career management that allows her to work with local employers and be a liaison between student or graduate and employer.

When asked what her favorite part about working at WVJC is, Brittany said, “Every day is different here! I love the ability to work with such a broad and diverse group of students, graduates, and employers. I like the fact that I am given the opportunity to wear many different hats in my position. On any given day, I can be found working with students, graduates, employers, and leaders in the community. When I am not working with the aforementioned groups of people, you can find me working with faculty and staff developing strategies to provide high-level services for our students and graduates.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the career services that WVJC offers students and graduates, request information here!

Christina Hayslett – Staff Highlight

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Christina Hayslett is a Financial Aid Officer at WVJC Charleston. She finds it fulfilling to work at WVJC because of the many lives she can be a part of, as she watches students grow into confident and successful individuals. “These are real people, mothers, fathers, first time-students, all making an effort to do and be better. This gives us the responsibility to do and to be better as well.”

Christina understands the demographic of many of our students. A graduate of Marshall University, Christina began her higher education right out of high school, but as she began to have a family of her own, the inconvenience of traditional school interrupted her education. It was several years after her daughter was born that she returned to finishing her bachelor’s degree. “If I had known about a school like WVJC, I would’ve seen that I could both be a mother and student at the same time, and not make a sacrifice to either.”

Christina has previously worked in admissions in low-income based education services and understands the connection between education and finances. Christina says, “It is the goal of WVJC Financial Aid, to make school affordable today, but not leave you with an enormous debt tomorrow.” The financial aid team in Charleston works to establish a plan that allows you to focus on your education and not the burden of cost. As a native of West Virginia, Christina concludes, “West Virginia residents need careers here in our own state, and at WVJC, we can help make that dream a reality.”

“Traditional college isn’t for everyone, but education is. Finding the right school, a program that you are interested in, and a staff that supports your real life is key. We have that here at WVJC because WE CARE about your success.”

If you would like to know more about the short-term programs at WVJC, request information here!