Gee poses with students for a selfie during the new Reed College of Media Innovation Center ’ s open house . Photography by David Smith / WVU Reed College of Media .
“ I think one of the major mistakes we ’ ve made in the state is we ’ ve exported coal , exported oil , exported gas and exported talent , and the last is the most debilitating ,” he says . “ We need to make certain we recruit the best and brightest to the university and then keep them here by providing opportunities for them to stay . West Virginians love West Virginia , and they will stay here — or return — when given the opportunity .”
One way in which WVU is addressing this issue is by offering an entrepreneurialism-focused curriculum and creating opportunities like the LaunchLab for those who want to start their own business . Forty percent of Generation Z students , the incoming generation of college students , reported in a survey that they want to be entrepreneurs , making this a major priority on campus .
“ If they start their business here , they ’ ll keep it here , and that ’ s how we change the economic arc and direction of the state — by growing a lot of our own entrepreneurial activities ,” says Gee . “ Most of the economic activity in this country is in small businesses , but the real investment is when you can get young people engaging in entrepreneurial activities that will grow companies — that ’ s the kind of spirit we need to create .”
Raising West Virginia
While West Virginia ’ s challenges are overwhelming , the solution lies within the state ’ s greatest asset : its people — all 1.8 million of them . Working together , Gee is certain West Virginians can rise .
“ We all need to understand we have much to offer each other ,” he says . “ We have the most resilient people on the face of the earth . If for no other reason , you can love West Virginia because of its people . The sun never sets on them . They are always shining . We need to take a lot of pride in what we have , and that pride will translate into tremendous opportunities . In the end , it ’ s about believing in ourselves .” •
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