The grant will support the university’s “Building a Pathway to Cloud Computing Careers in West Virginia” project.
West Virginia University Parkersburg has received an $815,824 Advanced Technological Education grant from the National Science Foundation in support of the university’s “Building a Pathway to Cloud Computing Careers in West Virginia” project. The project seeks to expand and improve cloud computing technician education through implementing faculty member ideas and suggestions. The project will also develop a new associate degree program for cloud computing in partnership with Amazon Web Services, which is expected to begin enrolling in the Fall of 2026.
According to an article on West Virginia University Parkersburg’s website, Dr. Torie Jackson, the president of WVU Parkersburg, was quoted as saying, “It is such an honor for WVU Parkersburg to be the recipient of a National Science Foundation grant. It takes months of planning to be eligible for these prestigious federal opportunities. Michele Wilson worked diligently to pursue this opportunity. For students, this is exciting as it allows us to pursue our two-year degree in Cloud Computing, a joint partnership with Amazon Web Services. Using curriculum and degree pathways that are esteemed in the technical industry allows us to elevate our programming and to provide the Mid-Ohio Valley students with a unique skill set that makes them marketable for many job opportunities across the globe.”
The three-year grant from the National Science Foundation will fund the hiring of two cloud computing faculty members and a student success coach, as well as purchase necessary technology to teach the program.
The new associate degree program in cloud computing will prepare students for careers that will utilize AWS-based infrastructure, cloud architecture, networking, security, and automation. Potential careers might include cloud support technician, cloud systems specialist, or junior solutions architect, and students will gain experience in AWS tools and prepare for industry certifications.
Michele Wilson, the Dean of Workforce, Technical and Computer Information Science Division, is leading the grant project, with Kurt Knopp, Charles Almond, and Olivia Reeder acting as co-lead investigators on the project. Knopp will build industry partnerships that will benefit students as they enter the workforce, Almond will lead the development of curriculum, and Reeder will manage marketing for the new program.
Knopp said, “This is a prestigious and highly vetted national grant whose intent is to ensure that institutions of higher learning have the resources to implement programs with major impact on national economic development, national security concerns, and cutting-edge technologies. Being awarded the grant communicates the belief by the federal government that WVU Parkersburg has a well thought out plan to drive cutting-edge learning in our region.”
For more information about West Virginia University Parkersburg, visit the school’s website.