Contact: Kimberly Osborne (304) 766-3363 kosborne@wvstateu.edu

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Following a national search, Dr. J. Paige Carney has been named Dean of the College of Professional Studies at West Virginia State University (WVSU) effective July 1.
Carney has served as Acting Dean of the College since January 2014. In her role as the chief administrator of the college, she oversees five departments; Criminal Justice, Education, Health and Human Performance, Military Science/ROTC and Social Work.
“During her service as Acting Dean, Dr. Carney exemplified the leadership and commitment needed to launch the College of Professional Studies and our students to greater heights of achievement, excellence and service. I am confident our students and faculty will be well-served by Dr. Carney as she takes on the permanent appointment as Dean,” said Dr. Kumara Jaysuriya, WVSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Since August 2011, Carney has been a Professor of Education at WVSU and also the Director of Clinical Experiences. In that role, she creates field and student teacher school placements. She also serves as counselor to Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education. Carney previously taught at WVSU from 1996 through 2004 as an Associate Professor of Education.
“I am grateful to be named Dean of the College of Professional Studies at West Virginia State University. It is a privilege for me to serve in this role and continue to promote the mission of the College and University by providing our students with innovative, student-focused learning experiences,” Carney said. “It is an honor to interact with creative and scholarly faculty, students and staff as we differentiate students’ learning needs and assist them with successful degree completion. As Dean, one of my goals is to share our story and how we impact the community, state and region with our rich traditions and academic excellence.”
In addition to her work at WVSU, Carney was Chair of the Education Program and an Associate Professor of Education at the University of Charleston from 2007 through May 2011, as well as an Associate Professor of Education at Eastern Kentucky University from 2004-2005. She has also served as an Adjunct Professor with the Marshall University Graduate College.
Carney has also served as the External Facilitator for Reading for All and the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Grants for Kanawha County Schools from 2000 through 2004. From 2005 through 2010 she worked as a Lecturer and Researcher for the University of Kentucky serving as Kentucky’s Principal Investigator for Reading First, analyzing effective reading achievement and research-based instruction. She also worked as a kindergarten teacher from 1984 through 1992 in the Fayette County, Ky., Public School System.
She is a member of the International Reading Association, the West Virginia Reading Association, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Association of Education of Young Children and the Association for Childhood Education International.
Carney has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including twice being named Kanawha County’s Reading Association Teacher of the Year for College Educators Award.
Carney received her doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky, and her master’s degree from Georgetown College. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina.
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