Over 1,000 Fairmont State University baccalaureate students have been honored for their academic achievements throughout the Spring 2026 semester.
Fairmont State University’s DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) chapter represented the university and state of West Virginia at the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference in Louisville, KY. DECA is a student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in business disciplines like marketing, finance, management, and hospitality. The Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference is an opportunity for DECA members to come together and engage in competitions, professional development, networking, and more.
Fairmont State University is proud to announce that Dr. Joseph Riesen, professor of mathematics, has been awarded the College Teacher of the Year Award at the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference. The annual conference recognizes mathematics educators at the elementary, middle school, high school and college levels. Each year, the WVCTM College Teacher of the Year Award honors a professor who has made outstanding contributions to mathematics education.
Fairmont State University shined at the annual West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (WVCTM) conference at Stonewall Resort. The conference recognizes educators in mathematics at all academic levels – elementary, middle school, high school, and college. Fairmont State University students received grants to attend the conference, and many of our faculty members presented their research and work throughout.
Dr. Deborah “Deb” Struth has been appointed Dean of Fairmont State University’s College of Nursing. She has served as interim dean since April 2024 and will now assume the role on a permanent basis.
Fairmont State University continues to strengthen its academic enterprise by welcoming a new Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs. Dr. Abbey Zink, a West Virginia native, will officially join the University on April 13, 2026, bringing nearly 15 years of senior academic leadership experience and a demonstrated commitment to advancing faculty success—an essential component of institutional excellence and student achievement. Currently, Dr. Tim Oxley serves as both the Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Business and Aviation. He will be assisting with Dr. Zink’s transition into the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs position prior to his planned retirement in June.
Fairmont State University’s premier Aviation program continues to advance, strengthened by new leadership and significant investments that position it for lasting growth, expanded enrollment, and an even greater impact on West Virginia’s aviation workforce.
West Virginia’s bedrock regional institution, Fairmont State University, has been awarded more than $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funds for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, thanks to Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Senator Jim Justice. The University received $643,000 for campus police resource upgrades and $1,650,000 for aviation equipment. The CDS process allows members of Congress to allocate federal funds to specific projects in their states or districts. CDS supports local initiatives and community development, ensuring projects that benefit West Virginia are properly funded.
Dr. Rebecca Giorcelli, Chair of Marketing and Management Studies and faculty member teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in the College of Business and Aviation (CoBA) at Fairmont State University, has been named a top five finalist for the 2025 West Virginia Professor of the Year Award. The West Virginia Professor of the Year Award, presented by the Faculty Merit Foundation, recognizes innovation, creativity, and excellence among faculty at West Virginia’s public and private higher education institutions.
Fairmont State University continues to demonstrate its dedication to serving West Virginia through its Middle College and RISE (Resilience, Independence, Support, Empowerment) programs. Both initiatives provide vital social support and raise awareness for one of the state’s most vulnerable populations: youth currently in foster care and those who have previously experienced it. The programs have started 2026 with strong momentum and are poised to build on that success throughout the spring semester.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Fairmont State University has been named one of the Top 3 MBA Programs in West Virginia by MBAschools.org, a national higher education resource that publishes state-by-state business school comparisons.
The Fairmont State University ENCOVA Career Development Center will host its annual All-Majors Spring Career Fair on Wednesday, March 25, from 10 AM to 3 PM in Falcon Center Gyms 1 and 2. This event not only provides students the opportunity to gain networking skills and share their experience, but also gives employers a chance to visit campus and recruit talented, hardworking, career-ready Fairmont State students.
The month of February ended with growth and momentum for Fairmont State University. The University’s Board of Governors met on February 25 and received updates from campus leadership on key initiatives, enrollment progress, academic planning, and community engagement events. The University then pivoted to one of its most spirited community events of the year, the annual Day of Giving, during which the University surpassed its $800,000 fundraising goal.
Fairmont State University is proud to join the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the statewide Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) degree program. Since its creation in 1975, the program has transformed the lives of adult learners by offering flexible, accessible pathways to earning a college degree.
Fairmont State University will unite alumni, donors, friends, faculty, staff, and students for its annual Day of Giving campaign on Thursday, February 26, 2026, for a 24-hour celebration of Falcon pride and collective philanthropy. This year’s ambitious fundraising goal is $800,000, which will provide critical support for students and programs across campus.
If you have written a news release and would like to have it posted on the news site or sent to media outlets, please send the release to news@fairmontstate.edu 7-10 days in advance of your targeted release date. Please include a photo when possible.
