Gaunch to Join Cardinal Institute Board of Directors
The Cardinal Institute is pleased to announce that Ed Gaunch , a Boone County , WV , native , will be joining its board of directors . After graduating from West Virginia State University in 1970 , he spent more than three decades in the insurance industry , including 34 years at the Carson Agency in Charleston where he served as president and CEO for several years . In 2014 , he was elected to the West Virginia Senate representing the 8th District . In December 2018 , Gaunch was appointed by Governor Jim Justice to serve as Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Commerce . Gaunch and his wife , Marilyn , currently reside in Charleston , WV .
“ The Cardinal Institute could not be prouder to have a man like Ed Gaunch join its board of directors . Ed is universally respected for his integrity , business acumen , love for his home state and his desire to help shape a better future for West Virginia and its people ,” says Garrett Ballengee , executive director of the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy . “ Ed is dedicated to bettering the broader West Virginia community , a goal deeply shared by the Cardinal Institute . We look forward to bigger and better things with Ed on board in 2023 and beyond .”
Gaunch will be excitedly welcomed to the board and is honored for the opportunity .
“ I am pleased and honored to be invited to join the board of the Cardinal Institute because the mission of Cardinal matches one of my own personal mission priorities , which is to promote economic freedom , individual liberty , consumer choice and limited government ,” says Gaunch . “ I am passionate about serving my fellow West Virginians because I am a native son who has been blessed greatly by this state and its people . I want to be a catalyst to help create an atmosphere where our young citizens , including our children and grandchildren , can flourish and enjoy a wonderful future in this state that we love . I am very optimistic about the future of West Virginia . We have made giant strides over the past decade in terms of policy and governmental attitude . Folks are beginning to recognize that West Virginia is a wonderful place to live , work , play , transact business and raise a family . While there is work yet to be done , I believe that the underpinnings are in place to make further progress .”
University of Charleston ( UC ) students are now able to study human anatomy in 3D , with the launch of a dedicated virtual reality ( VR ) lab through a partnership with Perspectus , Inc ., a Colorado-based virtual and mixed reality technology firm .
“ We are excited to offer virtual reality technology to enhance student learning ,” says UC President Marty Roth . “ As soon as we experienced the Perspectus demo , we knew this would be a game changer for core courses like anatomy and physiology and in specialized health care programs like nursing , radiology and physician assistant . The three-dimensional , highly customizable imaging dramatically enhances students ’ depth of understanding , and we can work with our hospital and other health care partner organizations to integrate content students will see in their clinical rotations , externships and other applied learning settings , thereby providing better career preparation .”
Completed in August 2022 , the UC VR lab is one of the most advanced VR education labs in the country , featuring 30 high-powered computers with high-resolution headsets to access the Perspectus VR technology . The lab had a soft launch this fall and will be used in multiple programs by Spring 2023 , including UC ’ s biology , radiologic science , nursing and physician assistant programs .
“ We are continually exploring the latest technological innovations that can enhance student learning and move our students to the forefront of their area of study ,” says UC Chief Information Officer Scott Terry . “ With this new VR lab , we ’ re not only helping our students build the critical reasoning necessary to provide quality care , but we ’ re also preparing them for a future where technology will improve the access to and quality of health care and medicine .”
Ascend West Virginia Expands into Fourth Community
UC Offering Next Generation Virtual Reality Education Lab
Greater Elkins Area .
University of Charleston ' s virtual reality lab .
Ascend West Virginia , the nation ’ s premier talent attraction and retention program , recently announced its addition of the Greater Elkins Area to the program . Founded by West Virginia native Brad Smith and his wife , Alys , Ascend will welcome a new group of adventurers to the state ’ s Potomac Highlands , offering them more than $ 20,000 in incentives and a path to making Almost Heaven home . Greater Elkins joins a lineup of other communities that have welcomed nearly 150 new West Virginians while maintaining a 98 % retention rate .
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