President Mike is joined by Dr. Deb Struth, Dean of the College of Nursing, to discuss how the BEACON Center lives up to its name. The high-fidelity simulation technology and realistic clinical settings allow students to apply their classroom knowledge in lifelike healthcare scenarios. This will help ensure they are confident and career-ready the day they complete their degree program.
This year’s On the Road trip begins with a kickoff event at Twin Falls Resort State Park’s Courtyard on Monday, July 13th at 6 pm. This will be followed by county-wide events, community tours, and meaningful conversations that will strengthen Fairmont State’s relationships, help us identify meaningful partnerships, and show how the University can help move our state forward.
Summer is finally here. It’s a chance to engage in some of our favorite outdoor activities like swimming, camping, gardening and napping in a hammock under the shade tree. I hope you are enjoying the season, and that you get a chance to visit Fairmont State University’s picturesque campus to take in an event or simply to take a leisurely stroll.
Following Fairmont State President Mike Davis’ solo statewide summer tour in 2025, the University is taking its mission on the road to Wyoming, McDowell, and Raleigh counties this July with more than 30 Falcons. On the Road with Fairmont State will bring students, faculty, staff, leaders, and alumni directly into communities across the state to listen, connect, and build lasting partnerships.
Even though classes are out for the summer, campus is still buzzing. President Davis’ June Presidential Update is here, and it’s a good one! Joined by Fairmont City Manager Travis Blosser, he highlights the strong partnership between Fairmont State and the City, and how that connection continues to make a meaningful impact. From supporting the community after the 2025 Father’s Day flood to looking ahead with optimism, this update shows what it means to show up when it matters most.
Just a few weeks ago, our newest alumni, in their caps and gowns, walked across the stage and stopped with me for a photo to commemorate the moment. Is that picture missing from your photo album? Did you or someone you know once dream of earning your college degree? Did you, like so many others in West Virginia and the region, set that dream aside?
In our latest podcast episode, George Wolf, Vice President of Enrollment Management, shares insights on the pride, accomplishment, and aspirations tied to commencement—along with an important conversation about students whose paths were interrupted.
Nearly a year after the Father’s Day flood devastated parts of Fairmont, the city has partnered with Fairmont State University and First Exchange Bank to demolish three Locust Avenue structures that were condemned after the disaster.
Fairmont State University concluded its Spring 2026 Presidential Speaker Series Tuesday with a presentation by Chelsea Ruby, the secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism.
With its strategic implementation plans gradually being carried out, Fairmont State University is seeing a rise in student retention and campus participation, although leaders believe the school has much more room to grow.
Host Alex Boylan has coffee with Dr. Mike Davis, President of Fairmont State University.
The gulf between a university president and the average college student is a large one. Presidents often seem inaccessible, and students hesitate to approach them, fearing they won’t have anything in common to discuss. Presidents typically know the top students, student leaders, and maybe a few performers on stage or in athletic arenas, but many are far removed from the day-to-day buzz of campus life.
President Davis’ guest this month is alumnus and Board of Governors member Drew Paton, who was once a transfer student from Maryland. He was looking for a great place to get a degree while also spreading his wings and stepping out of the shadow of his older brother.
With its strategic implementation plans gradually being carried out, Fairmont State University is seeing a rise in student retention and campus participation, although leaders believe the school has much more room to grow.
As I mentioned in last month’s editorial, higher education matters — not just for graduates, but also for our communities and for the state of West Virginia. I wrote about how college degrees lead to better pay, and how higher earnings mean greater financial stability, more secure housing and the ability to manage unexpected expenses.
