2024 SWVHEC Annual Report

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY - MEDICAL LAB SCIENCE Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical Lab Science program at the Center continues to boast 100% employment rate for graduates. The Center offers lab space to provide hands-on education which allows students in Southwest Virginia to receive the exact same education as those at the Richmond campus. In addition to the six students on-site at the Center, Dr. Josh Williams also has teaching responsiblity for 71 junior and senior students enrolled in courses taught at the Center through a virtual class. Three seniors graduated from the Abingdon campus this past Spring and all three had job offers prior to graduation and are now working in local hospitals. Clinical partners rate the program and students very high and readily hire for vacancies from VCU’s graduates.

VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Virginia Cooperative Extension held several succcessful events at the Center this past fiscal year. The 4-H County-wide History Bowl is always an exciting event. The Reality Store and Career Exploration day served over 950 students. VCE also hosted the Highlands Beekeepers Association, Pesticide, and Family Nutrition Program trainings which served 383 attendees. Committee meetings and District Conferences served 254 attendees. In total, VCE served 3,760 Extension Users at the Center.

RADFORD UNIVERSITY Leigh Ann Adams is Radford’s new Site Director at the Center. For the past 8 years, Leigh Ann has served as the Director of Upward Bound programs at Virginia Highlands Community College. She also brings experience working for the Department of Education, King University and Emory and Henry University. As site director, she will lead efforts in expanding the strategic goals of Radford University in Southwest Virginia at the Center; conduct needs assessment to identify potential programming, curricular offerings, and partnerships that elevate the University goals; actively recruit students for Radford University programs, and engage with regional leaders to provide professional development and educational offerings. She will also serve as a liaison for the University on community boards and educational extension.

2023-24 Annual Report

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