By Emily Dawson, Contributing Writer
On Oct. 21, 2014 a classroom in West Liberty’s Campbell Hall of Health Sciences was named after Ryan Ferns.
Delegate Ryan Ferns is a Republican candidate running for State Senate in the First District and is a doctor of physical therapy. Ferns is both a contributor and a friend to the West Liberty community and has been a significant supporter of the health sciences.
Ferns has been the title sponsor of West Liberty’s annual Great Gala for three consecutive years. The Great Gala has raised and contributed more than $100,000 to the construction of Campbell Hall and the promotion of health sciences.
Although he is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit, Ferns has generously contributed more than an estimated $50,000 to West Liberty University. Vice President of Institutional Advancement Jason Koegler, Executive Director of Development Angela Zambito Hill and Dean of the College of Sciences Dr. Robert Kreisberg thanked Ferns for his support.
Students majoring in the fields of dental hygiene, nursing, speech pathology, medical laboratory science and audiology now enjoy classrooms with modern technology in health sciences. Along with that, the Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree program and the chemistry department are located in Campbell Hall.
Campbell Hall was named in honor of Dr. Clyde Campbell, a former West Liberty graduate, chemistry professor and university president. The hall was finished in the spring of 2014 and it totaled a cost of $23 million dollars. “I’m honored and humbled to be a part of such a phenomenal learning facility. I am grateful to West Liberty University for having the vision and initiative to build a premier science center that will allow students in the Ohio Valley to be competitive for the most sought-after healthcare jobs in the nation,” said Ferns.
For extra hands during the year, Ferns hired West Liberty students to intern at his clinic. Ferns says, “The internships provide a great experience for the students.” The Bureau of Labor statistics predicts that the health sciences will be the fastest growing career choice over the next decade.
