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Liz Vitullo
Assistant VP for Economic Innovation , Office of the President ; Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics , WVU
DAWN NOLAN
Photo by Gretchen Hurd .
LIZ VITULLO , assistant vice president ( AVP ) for economic innovation in the Office of the President and assistant dean for strategic initiatives at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University ( WVU ), wouldn ’ t be who she is today without the love and values instilled in her by the Italian grandparents who raised her .
“ I think I learned some of the most important lessons from my Nonna and Nonno , immigrants who built a life for us through hard work and resourcefulness ,” describes Vitullo .
“ Their priority was their family .” As a wife and mother of three , Vitullo also prioritizes family . “ They are who I want to make the proudest ,” she says . Growing up in Toronto , Canada , Vitullo wasn ’ t aware of the many career paths she could pursue . What she did know , however , was that she wanted to make a living doing something she enjoyed .
“ I had no idea what professions existed outside of being a teacher , doctor or lawyer ,” she says . “ My mom was a
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