ASCEND WV VISTA- Greenbrier Valley
The VISTA member will assist in developing community engagement and service opportunities for members of the Ascend WV program with the goal of creating meaningful and positive experiences with their new home. This person will also help us to identify ways of supporting and nurturing the community of remote workers that exist in and beyond our program. Additionally, this person will help us foster a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship with local partners and stakeholders by pursuing opportunities for collective engagement. Ascend, WV a remote worker attraction and retention program in West Virginia, aims to not only attract remote workers to the Mountain State, but support them as they relocate in pursuit of a better quality of life, purposeful connection with their chosen community, and an outdoor driven lifestyle. The VISTA member will be a part of the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative at West Virginia University, which manages and operates the program in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Tourism.
WVU Energy Express VISTA
The VISTA Energy Express Project Facilitator will play a vital role in expanding the capacity and sustainability of Energy Express, a literacy and nutrition initiative that serves approximately 500 children each year in rural and low-income West Virginia communities. The VISTA member will work directly with the Energy Express Director to enhance program impact through grant development, recruitment efforts, communications, and strategic planning.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to educational equity and youth development across the state. The VISTA member’s efforts will strengthen the infrastructure of a well-established program while supporting its growth into school-year reading support initiatives.
Water Resource Institute
The Common Waters VISTA member will support the growth and sustainability of the Common Waters Collaborative by developing student–community engagement opportunities focused on rural water and watershed issues across West Virginia. The VISTA will strengthen the host site’s capacity by refining participant selection and matching processes to ensure meaningful connections between WVU students and community watershed partners. This role will expand the reach and impact of Common Waters by building these partnerships with WVU faculty, student organizations, and academic programs to create hands-on learning and service opportunities that address real community water needs. The VISTA will also support student retention and long-term engagement with local watershed groups, boosting collaboration that contributes to improved water quality in West Virginia communities. Based within the West Virginia University Water Research Institute, this position will increase awareness of watershed group needs while advancing practical learning for students committed to environmental stewardship.
Davis College Research Systems and Application Development VISTA
The Research Systems and Application Development VISTA will support efforts to modernize how WVU’s Experiment Station within the Davis College of Agriculture & Natural Resources manages forms, reporting processes, and internal administrative systems. This project will focus on organizing information, improving workflows, and helping develop practical digital tools that make day-to-day operations more efficient for faculty, staff, and managers. The VISTA volunteer will assist with reviewing current systems, identifying areas for improvement, and supporting the development of more streamlined processes for handling paperwork and reporting. This role is well suited for someone interested in building experience in workflow design and sustainability, administrative systems, data organization, and professional communication while contributing to projects that provide long-term value to West Virginia University.
WVU AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
The WVU AmeriCorps VISTA Leader will support the WVU VISTA program by coordinating VISTA recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing development throughout the full-service term. This role includes regular check-ins with VISTA volunteers, providing guidance on professional development, and helping ensure members are supported and engaged in their placements. The VISTA Leader will maintain relationships with host sites and assist in building and expanding community partnerships for future placements. They will also help plan and coordinate cohort-based service projects, networking opportunities, and events that connect VISTAs with each other and with the broader community. In addition, the VISTA Leader will support outreach and tabling efforts, assist the Center for Community Engagement with program goals, and help refine and update VISTA program materials and internal processes to improve clarity and consistency. This role serves as a key point of connection between VISTA members, host sites, and WVU’s broader community engagement efforts.