FY 23 SWVHEC Annual Report

Partner Updates

Allison Mays started as the director of the Virginia Tech Southwest Center on May 10, 2023. Allison previously served in a number of roles at Emory & Henry College, including most recently as director of government relations. In addition to Emory & Henry, Allison has held significant leadership roles with organizations such as Mount Rogers Community Services, Healing Hands Health Center, and the Barter Theatre. From 2015-19, she served on the Washington County Board of Supervisors. She is currently a member of the board of directors for the Birthplace of Country Music, Friends of SWVA, Virginia Ed Strategies and Blue Ridge PBS. Allison is excited for the VT Southwest Center to plan and host upcoming professional and workforce development events and activities, such as leadership training for Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing. She has also been working on developing and supporting grant applications to address arising workforce training needs in career fields within energy and mine reclamation. She also plans to work with localities, School Boards and School Districts across Southwest Virginia on a needs assessment with an anticipated outcome of improving teacher retention. Within the community, the VT Southwest Center is partnering with the Friends of the Washington County Public Library to host a Sunday with Friends author series. Pictured: Allison Mays.

King University held four classes in Fall 2022 with a total of 32 students pursuing Masters of Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner degrees. In the spring semester, classes included 42 students. Orientation was held at the SWVHEC in August and January. During each semester, King Univeristy held a clinical day at the Center. Each spring, the University holds a program evaluation meeting. Pictured: Spring 2023 King University MSN/FNP graduates.

Last year the A. Linwood Holton Governor’s School served 410 students, which represents 17 school divisions and 36 high schools. During that time, students earned 3,641

college credits. ALHGS held eleven events at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, primarily hosting the School’s science course lab days. These labs included animal dissection, blood typing, and anatomy (through the virtual cadaver lab). ALHGS also held two weeks of orientation each semester that all students attended for one of the days. Pictured: Students dissect a fetal pig during onsite lab day.

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