In celebration of those who have relocated to West Virginia, embraced our beloved state and now help us work toward a brighter future, Talent Transplant recognizes those who have adopted our Mountain Mama as their own.
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Talent
Transplant
Javier Reyes
Photo by Alex Wilson.
BLAIR DOWLER
In celebration of those who have relocated to West Virginia, embraced our beloved state and now help us work toward a brighter future, Talent Transplant recognizes those who have adopted our Mountain Mama as their own.
When Javier Reyes accepted the position of Milan Puskar Dean of the West Virginia University( WVU) College of Business and Economics( B & E), he did not simply take on a new a role at the state’ s largest land grant institution— he discovered a new home in the Mountain State and a passion for helping move West Virginia forward.
“ The reason I made West Virginia my home is because it needs help, and it’ s the kind of place where you can do something meaningful,” says Reyes.“ I didn ' t come here because the situation is bad. I came because there are people who want to change the situation and the narrative. You don ' t want to go work in a place where you ' re going to be the only voice for change. If the mindset was not one of‘ We ' re ready to move the state forward,’ then it wouldn’ t work.”
Joining the Mountaineer Family
Reyes knew when he met the WVU administration— including President Gordon Gee; Provost Joyce McConnell; Vice Provost John Campbell; and Gene Cilento, dean of the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources— that this was the right team for him.
“ I could instantly see this was a team
I wanted to be part of,” he says.“ I think I came to West Virginia and adopted it because I saw that there are hardworking, passionate people who want to make a positive impact on this beautiful state and innovate and take back the narrative, showing the rest of the world all the state has to offer.”
It wasn’ t just a dean position at the state’ s flagship school or the opportunity to be part of an incredible team that drew Reyes to West Virginia. The Mountain State also happened to be the perfect fit for the entire Reyes family. It didn’ t take long for Reyes’ wife, Maritza, and their two sons, Javi and Diego, to call West Virginia home.
“ The boys were concerned about leaving their friends and their school, but when you’ re raising a family, you want to prepare them for the future,” says Reyes.“ We explained why this change would be good for them and how they would have the opportunity to make new friends while staying connected with their old friends. When Javi and Diego traveled here to visit, they met with a group of student ambassadors at the middle and high schools, and they felt so welcomed. When Maritza and the boys met President Gee, he was so kind to them. Everyone continued to reiterate that they wanted my entire family to feel at home. We’ ve been to Texas and Arkansas, but we’ ve never felt more welcomed than we have here in West Virginia.”
Building Blocks for Success
While Reyes relocated here in 2016, his journey to West Virginia began long ago. From a young age, Reyes, a native of Mexico City, Mexico, had a natural sense of curiosity and an appreciation for math and statistics, which led him to major in economics. He wanted to use his inquisitive nature and knack for math and statistics to make an impact and affect people’ s lives. A life in academia was the ideal pathway, so he went on to earn a Ph. D. in economics.
Over the course of 13 years at the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business, Reyes continued to evolve, question and hone his passion. It was there he realized how much he enjoyed working with students. By the spring of 2016, he was balancing three roles: vice provost for distance education, associate dean for undergraduate studies and executive education and full-time professor in the business school’ s economics department.
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