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COLLABORATE. CHANGE. ACHIEVE.

As an academic hub, the ADVANCE Center works with faculty, staff and leaders to disrupt institutional inequities and serves all WVU departments as well as outside institutions to improve climate, culture and collaboration in working teams. Services include: 

  • Facilitation services and training 
  • Mentorship opportunities for faculty and graduate students
  • Change agent training
  • Customized department, unit, or group support 
  • Research on inclusivity among colleagues

Learn more about our team

Learn more about our signature Change Agent Course

Sign up for the advance change agent course

Become a change agent at WVU!

Virtual classes will be held on Fridays, once a month, during the Spring 2024 semester.

Open to faculty, staff and graduate students.

Learn more and register

WE FOCUS ON ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE FROM WITHIN

We accomplish institutional change through our main initiatives. The Dialogues process focuses on organizational improvements and team building. The ADVANCE Change Agent Course prepares participants for social justice leadership across the University. The Inclusive Hiring Initiative aims to attract and retain a more diverse WVU faculty.

Are you a chair or unit leader seeking to improve communication, collaboration and overall job satisfaction in your department, unit or group? Looking for a stronger organizational climate and culture? Need help solving an internal problem?

Learn more about Dialogues

Are you interested in becoming part of a growing network ready to engage in a personal and institutional transformation? Are you ready to become a social justice leader?

Learn more about the Change Agent Course

Do you want to help your department find more diverse faculty members to help build a stronger, more inclusive WVU community and enhance the academic experience for students, fellow faculty and staff?

Learn more about the Inclusive Hiring Initiative

Schedule an informational meeting today!

Contact WVU Advance

engaging Faculty in Group-Level Change for Institutional Transformation book cover

New Book Alert

The ADVANCE Center team is proud to release their new book that focuses on how to instill a stronger equitable, diverse and inclusive environment at higher education institutions. The work aims to create lasting, transformative institutional change.

Purchase the book 

National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity

make the most of resources designed for faculty, grad students and postdocs

As a member of NCFDD, WVU faculty have access to on-demand mentoring, curriculum, discussion forums and workshops.

Activate your free membership today

Congratulations to Dr. Amena Anderson, recipient of the 2023 Mary Catherine Buswell Award.

Read more about the award and Amena's accomplishments
Dr. Amena Anderson holding 2023 Mary Catherine Buswell Award
Dr. Amena Anderson holding 2023 Mary Catherine Buswell Award
Dr. Amena Anderson holding 2023 Mary Catherine Buswell Award

Meet our Team

The ADVANCE team brings together a passionate group of interdisciplinary scholars who are committed to promoting social justice and creating lasting change in all institutional levels across WVU and beyond.

Meet the full team
 Amena Anderson

Amena Anderson

Assistant Professor of Practice 

Assistant Director of the WVU ADVANCE Center

Read about Amena
Maja-Holmes

Maja Husar Holmes

Chair and Associate Professor of Public Administration, WVU

ADVANCE Master Facilitator

Read about Maja
Veronica Kovach

Veronica Kovach

Graduate Assistant, ADVANCE

Read about Veronica
 Christy Rittenour

Panel Header

Professor, Communication Studies Department, WVU

ADVANCE Master Facilitator

Read about Christy