July 16, 2021

Update from the President

Dear Wheeling Family, 

We had an exciting week on campus, which saw the release of a book by longtime faculty member Dr. Younkins, the introduction of a new member of the University community, and more academic recognition for our Cardinal athletes. 

Faculty scholarship is a hallmark of higher education. Like others around the country, our faculty conduct research, present at conferences, and write books each year. This week, Professor of Business Dr. Ed Younkins’ most recent book, “Exploring Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand’s Magnum Opus,” was released. Dr. Younkins has written extensively about his favorite novel “Atlas Shrugged” and his new book allowed him to combine all of his previous insights and works into one place. Scholarly work by our faculty supports our mission to instill in our students a thirst for life-long learning. Dr. Younkins’ book is just one example of the research and publications members of our faculty undertake each year. You can read more about Dr. Younkins’ book on our website. 

It was indeed a pleasure to welcome Matt Schmidt as our new head women’s basketball coach. We set out to find a leader who would build champions on and off the court, and there is no doubt we hit that mark. I have been impressed with his values, ability to connect with student-athletes, and coaching acumen. I am excited to see the brand of basketball and program Coach Schmidt will build at Wheeling University. His experiences developing winning teams and individuals at Duquesne, Armstrong State University, Northern Kentucky, and the University of Findlay will be instrumental in leading our program to a championship level. Matt Schmidt stood out among a very talented pool in our coaching search. He has the experience and track record we are looking for to continue the recent success of our program and build upon it. 

Coach Schmidt will make a great addition to the campus family and help develop our student-athletes excel in the classroom, community, and court. Coach Schmidt is no stranger to the Wheeling area – as a student-athlete, he played for West Liberty’s men’s basketball team. I am excited for his family, his wife Brittany, and his two young sons Jackson and Zachary, to join our family and the Wheeling University community.  

Wheeling University women’s track & field athletes Danielle Stewart, Liz Fleming, and Caroline Fodor were named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District II Team this week. All three are now eligible for consideration for the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team. The trio helped lead Wheeling to its third-straight Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship this past May. Danielle, a pole vaulter, recently graduated with a 3.89 GPA, earning degrees in both Nursing and Exercise Science. She was a Third-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American last year and a repeat all-district selection. Liz, who excelled in the throwing events for the Cards, earned her Exercise Science degree this past May and graduated with a 3.31 GPA. Caroline, a middle-distance runner, is a Biology major and is maintaining a 3.86 GPA. I am so very proud of these women for achieving great success in the classroom. 

Our Admissions team continues to recruit students for the class of 2025, and applications are still being accepted. Our enrollment numbers are trending consistent with last year’s numbers. This incoming class is a diverse group, with students coming from 23 states and 24 countries. Our top three states with the most recruits are Ohio (44), West Virginia (32), and Maryland/DC (23). In addition to our undergraduate and graduate programs, Wheeling now offers a number of professional certificates, which provide working adults the ability to enhance their skills to advance in their careers. It is becoming more common for employers to decide that a degree alone is not enough. Recent studies show an increasing demand for job applicants to hold certificates, micro-credentials, and real-world professional experience, in addition to college degrees. Many of the programs are offered online, which is a convenient option for those employed full-time. Wheeling’s professional certificates provide students and working professionals alike a way to bulk up their resumes with field-specific skills. A complete listing of the certificate programs are listed on our website.  

Wishing you a wonderful weekend. 

With appreciation, 

Ginny R. Favede, President
Wheeling University