Even in the most rural areas, people continue to create safe and accessible environments for everyone. Director Bravin Hughart strives to accomplish that at the Marshall Mid-Ohio Valley Campus.
Before becoming the director, Hughart worked almost every job at the campus.
“I’ve worked for MOVC for about 12 years as an employee,” he said. “I was actually a grad assistant before that while I was in grad school.”
Hughart has been an educator, an IT specialist, the campus manager and now the director. Although he holds the directorship, he still teaches at the campus.
Hughart said early in his life, he didn’t think about going to college, let alone grad school, but after sustaining an injury, he went back to school in his mid-30s. He even took courses at MOVC as much as he could until, in the last two years of his bachelor’s degree, he had to commute primarily to the Huntington campus.
“I think we’re forgotten about frequently on the main campus, sadly,” Hughart said, “because it is a great opportunity for anyone who lives within a reasonable distance of this campus, especially as a freshman. If you can’t afford to live on campus, it’s a great option. It could mean the difference of attending school or not depending on someone’s financial situation.”
Hughart also said he has been working to spread the message to more local counties that can commute to MOVC by visiting high schools in Gallia, Meigs, Kanawha, Putnam and Jackson counties.
Jacob Shull, the senior IT consultant, said, “Bravin is a persevering director of the Marshall Mid-Ohio Valley Center who has been open to new ideas to grow the facility.”
Hughart also discussed the campus’s new additions and the programs it offers outside of general education courses.
“You can get a full four-year degree in nursing, social work and an RBA,” Hughart said. “You can also get your grad degree in social work here and most of the nursing. You can also get a doctorate in psych.”
The campus just added an advanced manufacturing program that is a partnership with Mountwest Community and Technical College.
Hughart is from the Point Pleasant area and continues to give back to the community that raised him. The campus has continued to grow its student base, adding new courses, and it hopes to continue this trend, especially given his love for the school and the close ties that not only he, but his family have with it.
Even in a rural area like Point Pleasant, West Virginia, the campus continues to create a safe space for all members of the Herd.
“I would encourage anyone to stop and see what we have to offer here,” Hughart said. “I feel like we offer a comfortable, safe environment for everyone. We’ve always kind of pride ourselves on being – I want to say, cozy, but maybe that’s not the appropriate word – but everyone’s accessible here, you know?”
Soleil Woolard can be contacted at [email protected].
