Gee poses with students for a selfie during the new Reed College of Media Innovation Center’ s open house. Photography by David Smith / WVU Reed College of Media.
“ I think one of the major mistakes we’ ve made in the state is we’ ve exported coal, exported oil, exported gas and exported talent, and the last is the most debilitating,” he says.“ We need to make certain we recruit the best and brightest to the university and then keep them here by providing opportunities for them to stay. West Virginians love West Virginia, and they will stay here— or return— when given the opportunity.”
One way in which WVU is addressing this issue is by offering an entrepreneurialism-focused curriculum and creating opportunities like the LaunchLab for those who want to start their own business. Forty percent of Generation Z students, the incoming generation of college students, reported in a survey that they want to be entrepreneurs, making this a major priority on campus.
“ If they start their business here, they’ ll keep it here, and that’ s how we change the economic arc and direction of the state— by growing a lot of our own entrepreneurial activities,” says Gee.“ Most of the economic activity in this country is in small businesses, but the real investment is when you can get young people engaging in entrepreneurial activities that will grow companies— that’ s the kind of spirit we need to create.”
Raising West Virginia
While West Virginia’ s challenges are overwhelming, the solution lies within the state’ s greatest asset: its people— all 1.8 million of them. Working together, Gee is certain West Virginians can rise.
“ We all need to understand we have much to offer each other,” he says.“ We have the most resilient people on the face of the earth. If for no other reason, you can love West Virginia because of its people. The sun never sets on them. They are always shining. We need to take a lot of pride in what we have, and that pride will translate into tremendous opportunities. In the end, it’ s about believing in ourselves.” •
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