FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Sen. Michael A. Oliverio II, R-Monongalia, visited Pierpont Community & Technical College’s Advanced Technology Center and Culinary Academy to learn more about the college’s efforts to prepare students for careers in high-demand fields and support the workforce needs of North Central West Virginia. As a member of the West Virginia Senate Education Committee, Oliverio represents the 13th Senatorial District, which includes portions of Marion and Monongalia counties.

Joined by Campaign Communications Director Heather Severt, Oliverio met with students, faculty, and academic leaders to explore programs that connect education to career opportunities.

The visit was led by Dr. Michael Waide, President of Pierpont; David Beighley, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs; Dr. Kari Coffindaffer, Dean of the School of Business, Aviation, and Technology; Amy Cunningham, Dean of the School of Health Sciences; and Jennifer Ellison, Dean of the School of General Education and Professional Studies.

At the Advanced Technology Center, Oliverio met with students in the Applied Process Technology program, toured welding laboratories and experienced virtual reality training tools used through Pierpont’s healthcare programs. In the college’s health sciences classrooms, he visited the simulation lab, where students train using high-fidelity patient simulators that replicate real-world clinical scenarios for nursing, respiratory care and other health care programs. He also observed learning experiences within the Surgical Technology workforce program and spoke with students about their educational and career goals.

“One of the things I care deeply about is whether we’re creating opportunities for the next generation,” Oliverio said. “Having supported community and technical college education throughout my time in the Legislature, it was encouraging to see firsthand how Pierpont continues to create opportunities for students and strengthen our workforce.”

Throughout the tour, faculty and college leaders highlighted how Pierpont partners with employers across North Central West Virginia to address workforce needs through hands-on training, industry-aligned programs and affordable pathways to education.

At Pierpont’s Culinary Academy at Middletown Commons, Oliverio met with culinary and pastry students, toured instructional kitchens, and sampled student-prepared desserts. The culinary portion of the visit was led by Ellison and Natalie Feltz, coordinator of the Food Service Management program.

Discussions also focused on dual enrollment, transfer pathways and opportunities for students to continue their education beyond an associate degree. College leaders shared information about Pierpont’s One Walk, Two Degrees initiative, which allows eligible students to earn an associate degree while completing their high school diploma, as well as articulation agreements that help students transfer seamlessly to four-year institutions.

“A community college should be a place where people can see a future for themselves,” Dr. Waide said. “Whether a student is earning college credit in high school, learning a new skill, preparing for a career or continuing their education, our responsibility is to create pathways that help them move forward. When our students succeed, our communities, employers and region succeed alongside them.”

Many Pierpont students are able to pursue degrees, certificates and workforce credentials with assistance through programs such as WV Invests, helping reduce financial barriers while preparing graduates to meet the needs of employers in advanced manufacturing, health care, aviation, skilled trades, information technology, hospitality and other essential industries.

“Strong workforce development begins with strong educational partnerships,” Beighley said. “Through dual enrollment, articulation agreements and industry-aligned programs, we’re creating a more connected pathway from high school to college and from the classroom to the workforce. Our goal is to ensure students have access to affordable, high-quality education while providing employers with the skilled talent they need to grow and thrive.”

For Oliverio, the visit offered a firsthand look at how Pierpont is helping students build careers while supporting the workforce needs of Marion County and the broader region.

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Pierpont Community & Technical College provides accessible, responsive, and high‑quality education to students and businesses across North Central West Virginia. With a strong focus on career readiness and workforce development, Pierpont offers academic programs and industry‑aligned training that create clear pathways to employment. Through this work, the college helps students discover their path while supporting the region’s economic and workforce needs.

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Pierpont Community and Technical College

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