Ann Booth serves as Associate Vice President - University Communications. She provides leadership, vision and administrative supervision for communications, marketing, public relations and creative services for Fairmont State across a variety of cross-functional areas, as well as supporting the President. Booth has more than 18 years of experience in strategic communications, crisis communications, marketing and public relations. She previously served as Marketing Director for the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences-West Virginia and as Field Marketer/Sports Marketing SME for AT&T Wireless-West Virginia/Ohio Valley.
Booth graduated from Concord College in Athens, West Virginia, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, with an emphasis in English/Education. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from West Virginia University, in 2000. She is a member of PRSA. She is active in the community, currently serving as a Board member and past-President of Sacred Heart Children’s Foundation and as a Board member of the YMCA-Harrison County.
Christina Lavorata serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. She earned an Ed D in Curriculum and Instruction from West Virginia University, an MA in Elementary Education with Reading Emphasis from WVU, and a BA from Fairmont State College in Elementary Education with Social Studies concentration. She previously served Fairmont State University as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and as Professor of Education.
Lavorata is the past president of the West Virginia Association of Academic Administrators and belongs to the county, state, and national reading associations. While teaching in Marion County Public Schools, she was named Language Arts Teacher of the Year and County Teacher of the Year.
Lavorata enjoys participating in Fairmont State Fine Arts activities and has performed five times with the Collegiate Singers and twice in Town and Gown productions. She has served on the boards of two United Way agencies: Literacy Volunteers and The Connecting Link.
Rick Porto, Vice President for Administration and Fiscal Affairs, came to Fairmont State in 1995 as Assistant Vice President for Administration and Finance, acting as Chief Accounting Officer for the institution's annual operating budget of more than $65 million. Current oversight includes bond construction funds of $64 million. He has helped to implement a complete overhaul of the university's payroll and payroll budgeting systems including direct deposit of payroll checks. He has overseen a complete change in the way procurement of goods and services is accomplished and automation of student services provided by the student accounts office, as well as the installation of the Banner Finance Systems and Banner Accounts Receivable. He also has helped make budgets a stronger management tool and has helped strengthen benefits service and benefits accounting.
Porto was employed by West Virginia University for nearly 18 years, serving as an Accountant I/Assistant to the Controller, Bursar, Assistant Controller and Associate Controller-Systems and Production. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.
Porto is married to Janice Marie Porto, who works for Fairmont State University in School of Nursing as Administrative Assistant Senior. They have three children: Christina Marie Lopez, who is working at Ruby Hospital as a Speech Pathologist, Averial Madonna is a Doctor of Pharmacy and is a Pharmacist with Walgreens, and Saturno Joseph, a graduate of Morgantown High School, who enjoys new challenges and is exploring career and technical options across a variety of disciplines.
With almost 40 years of experience in higher education, Widney is an experienced supervisor and budget manager, having served as Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at West Virginia University and before that as Director of Financial Aid at Fairmont State.
Widney provides leadership, vision and administrative supervision for operations including financial aid; recruitment and admissions; registration and records; and student services. She participates in the formulation and success of FSU’s enrollment goals; develops and implements strong financial aid programs for students; implements student services policies which foster student learning and support FSU’s educational programs; and works collaboratively with the Pierpont Community & Technical College Associate Vice President for Administration in planning and implementing programs and services that serve the diverse needs of FSU and Pierpont students.
Widney served as Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at West Virginia University from 2004 to 2012. At Fairmont State, she was Director of Financial Aid at Fairmont from 1999 to 2003, Associate Director of Financial Aid from 1995 to 1999 and a Financial Aid Counselor from 1991 to 1995. Before coming to Fairmont State, Widney worked in financial aid at LaSalle University in Philadelphia. She has been a member of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Financial Aid Advisory Board since 2009; an active member of the West Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators since 1991; an active member of the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators since 1997; an active member of the Coalition of State University Aid Administrators since 2004; and a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.