Monteroso Talks Spring, New Semester, New Aviation Program at West Liberty University
Joselyn King Trending
WEST LIBERTY - Cathy Monteroso - both interim president and interim provost at West Liberty University - hopes someone is tapped to take over the provost's job by the end of this month.
Monteroso talked spring, the beginning of the new semester and about a new aviation program coming to WLU as she provided the state of the university address Thursday in the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex on campus.
Monteroso said until a provost is "in spot" she will be serving as both interim president and interim provost.
"I'm hoping that will change relatively soon," she told those gathered in the gym. "I'm hoping by the end of the month, we will have someone in that position."
Monteroso has been serving as interim provost since January 2022. She was named interim president last month and is the first woman to serve as president at WLU.
She has been at WLU for 13 years, and previously was dean of the College of Education and Human Performance.
After her speech Thursday she said she wanted to see more innovations and programming at WLU in the coming months.
"We have always been a leader regionally in terms of servicing students," Monteroso said. "I think we will be focusing on students, programs we are providing and those that are needed for area development as well."
WLU is working to develop an aviation program that would work out of the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport, she continued. Discussions about the program are in their beginning stages.
"There is such a high need for pilots, and we are so closely located to the Ohio County Airport. That's where we're looking to develop it," she said.
Monteroso, however, isn't certain as to the plans for the WLU Highlands Center complex within The Highlands retail development owned by Ohio County. The facility has been little-used by WLU, which continues to pay rent to the Ohio County Development Authority for its occupancy.
"We're still working on it," she said. "Currently, we're there. We are going to be there this semester. But I don't have a real answer yet as to where we will be with The Highlands."
Meanwhile, "it's a new semester, it's a new year," Monteroso added.
"We are just going to continue to serve our students in the best way we can. We are going to try to innovate, start new programs, and be a leader in this area," she said.
Among those also addressing staff and faculty Thursday were Karen Kettler, dean of the College of Sciences, and Katie Cooper, assistant vice president of enrollment management, who both serve on the WLU Presidential Search Committee.
They provided an update on the current search for a WLU president, which is currently being conducted by AGB Search, a professional search firm.
They said "listening sessions" with the committee are planned for Jan. 10 and 11. They encouraged all stakeholders to come and participate at their designated times, and share their thoughts with the committee. Information gathered will be used to finalize a leadership profile for who should be the next WLU president, and used to recruit a strong group of candidates, they said.
Among those asked to participate are trustees, campus administrators, faculty and staff members, students, alumni and community members. Employees are encouraged, but not required to attend.
Faculty Excellence Awards for the 2022-2023 session were presented to faculty who were nominated by their peers based on a prescribed list of criteria, A formal committee then voted on the nominees.
Awards were presented for excellence in professional activity to biology professor Zachary Loughman; for excellence in teaching to art professor Brian Fencl and to marketing instructor Ingrid Loy; and for excellence in service to associate professor of Spanish Felipe Rojas.
During her address, Monteroso announced that an inaugural doctoral degree in education program is coming to WLU soon, and that a bachelor of data science program is now up and running.
She noted that WLU student athletes overall scored a 3.21 grade point average this past fall, with 105 Hilltopper athletes achieving a 4.0 GPA.
Two major athletic championships also are coming to WLU in the coming weeks and months, according to Monteroso. The Mountain East Wrestling Tournament happens on campus Jan. 28, and the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association National Championship is set for WLU on April 27-29.