WVU Magazine

02/15/2025

For WVU💛💙 student Areej Jaffrey, education isn't just a path to a degree. It's her path to achieve her purpose. Growing up where education was a privilege, Jaffrey dared to dream of something bigger despite the challenges of life. Now a WVU student, she is balancing family life and studies with grace and grit. Read her story in WVU Magazine’s Winter ‘24 issue

Born and raised in a small village in Pakistan, Areej Jaffrey has lived a life that exemplifies nontraditional. So it’s no big surprise that Jaffrey, a wife of a combat veteran and a mother of a 15-year-old and a 10-year-old, began her journey as a West Virginia University student in fall 2024.

02/14/2025

After 14 years in Law, WVU💛💙 Alumnus Russell Johnson found his calling in authorship. Read how Johnson moves from the courtroom into your bookshelves as an award-winning author in WVU Magazine’s Winter ‘24 issue at

When Johnson graduated from West Virginia University in 1999 — a double major in English and history with a minor in creative writing — the former Calliope staff member and writer for the Daily Athenaeum debated on whether he should pursue a Master of Fine Arts or a law degree. One of his profes...

02/12/2025

From protecting the basket, WVU💛💙 Women’s Basketball defensive standout Lanay Montgomery now protects the U.S. Army’s computer systems. Read about how she moved on to the WNBA, but a knee injury kept her from long term success on the court

WVU Women’s Basketball defensive standout Lanay Montgomery moved on to the WNBA, but a knee injury kept her from longterm success on the court. She’s still a defender, but now protects the U.S. Army’s computer systems.

02/07/2025

With Cinthis Pacheco at the helm, the WVU💛💙 Office of Undergraduate Research initiative has increased retention through undergraduate research. Read about how this initiative recruits student from all majors into research in WVU Winter ‘24 issue at

Many universities around the country underestimate the importance of undergraduate research and what it can do for science, culture, arts and more. WVU, on the other hand, has an average of 300 students per year who work with the Office of Undergraduate Research.

02/05/2025

“When you’re part of our club, you’re part of our family.” Lisa Hanselman is the Mountaineer💛 Parents Club’s shining star🌟. Read about how the Club and bridges the communication gap between parents and their students in WVU Magazine’s Winter ‘24 issue at https://go.wvu.edu/4g9ap

02/04/2025

Without the support from my friends, coaches and professors at WVU💛💙 it would have been very hard getting through the past two years”. Read the story of Petal Palmer, a cancer patient, who offers help to others while stillin the “maintenance phase” of the disease in WVU Magazine’s Fall ’24 issue at https://go.wvu.edu/4g95a

02/02/2025

“This is community-driven. We’re letting people dictate where their money should go, and I think that’s revolutionary." Read the story of how Rodney Williams broke through disruptions to co-create the largest Black-owned consumer finance app in America in WVU Magazine

Rodney Williams (Economics / Finance, ’06; IMC, ’08) didn’t know exactly what he was getting into when he started SoLo Funds, but he knew that he saw a problem he not only wanted to fix but had the ability to do it.

02/01/2025

“West Virginians are everywhere…You wouldn’t think it, but we are.” Read the story of Amber Brugnoli who has visited 30 countries, and how she met Mountaineers in unexpected ways in WVU Magazine

West Virginia University alumni are sprinkled throughout our staff and faculty, representing to the students they encounter that the foundation built here can construct a career that gives back to the University and the state.

01/31/2025

The Last Word in our magazine, but a new beginning for WVU💛💙 student Areej Jaffrey to defy the odds. Read about Jaffrey, whose life exemplifies resilience and a quest to refine her destiny.

Born and raised in a small village in Pakistan, Areej Jaffrey has lived a life that exemplifies nontraditional. So it’s no big surprise that Jaffrey, a wife of a combat veteran and a mother of a 15-year-old and a 10-year-old, began her journey as a West Virginia University student in fall 2024.

01/29/2025

From protecting the basket, WVU💛💙 Women’s Basketball🏀 defensive standout Lanay Montgomery now protects the U.S. Army’s computer systems. Read about how she moved on to the WNBA, but a knee injury kept her from long term success on the court e

WVU Women’s Basketball defensive standout Lanay Montgomery moved on to the WNBA, but a knee injury kept her from longterm success on the court. She’s still a defender, but now protects the U.S. Army’s computer systems.

01/28/2025

Do you know that data brokers can use data collected through Automatic License Plate Readers for malicious purposes? Today marks Data Privacy Day, WVU💛💙 Associate Professor Nicole McConlogue reveals what this technology means to consumer rights and privacy in WVU Magazine at

Nicole McConlogue, an associate professor of law, clinic director at WVU and consumer protection advocate, theorizes that practices like this are exacerbating economic barriers for marginalized people.

01/27/2025

“Balancing home life and school can be overwhelming. For me and my family, balance is taking care of our mental and physical health first.” Areej Jaffrey is a WVU💛💙 commuter student whose story reflects what it takes to fulfill her dreams.

Born and raised in a small village in Pakistan, Areej Jaffrey has lived a life that exemplifies nontraditional. So it’s no big surprise that Jaffrey, a wife of a combat veteran and a mother of a 15-year-old and a 10-year-old, began her journey as a West Virginia University student in fall 2024.

01/26/2025

It’s Seed Swap Day! WVU Magazine💛💙 spotlights the legacy of the late 101-year-old plant pathologist Mannon Gallegly, who planted tomatoes and used the proceeds to grow minds in the WVU Plant and Soil Sciences program.

Eighty-two years ago, Gallegly finished his own studies and began his tomato-creating journey soon after. His latest version is "Mannon's Majesty."

01/24/2025

“That’s the best decision I’ve ever made because I gained a family. My teammates and fans became family, and the coaches became father figures.” Lanay Montgomery is a defensive standout who decided to play for WVU💛💙 even though she had many offers from other recruiters. Read about her successes and setbacks with the WVU Women’s Basketball🏀 team in WVU Magazine’s Winter ‘24 issue

WVU Women’s Basketball defensive standout Lanay Montgomery moved on to the WNBA, but a knee injury kept her from longterm success on the court. She’s still a defender, but now protects the U.S. Army’s computer systems.

01/23/2025

As the nation celebrates security technicians today, 4 million cybersecurity roles were left unfilled in 2023 according to ISC2. Read how WVU💛💙 faculty are putting the state on the map in the cybersecurity world and training students to fill these vacant roles in WVU Magazine’s Winter ‘24 issue at

This battlefield is not a jungle or desert. Rather, it’s a sophisticated office space — tucked inside Reynolds Hall, home of the Chambers College of Business and Economics — equipped with workstations, servers, computers and secure networks. At war are West Virginia University students, engage...

01/20/2025

Shirley Robinson is the first female African American tennis player in WVU’s💛💙 history. Read the story of how she persevered to become a philanthropist, pastor, chair of the Classified Staff and representative on the Board of Governors in WVU Magazine

West Virginia University alumni are sprinkled throughout our staff and faculty, representing to the students they encounter that the foundation built here can construct a career that gives back to the University and the state.