In the Foundational program, professionals who have earned graduate degrees in the fields of Education, Psychology, Educational Psychology, Special Education, Counseling, and Reading work to help each student design strategies for academic success. Students, who enroll in our optional programs on a semester-by-semester basis, will also be served by the Foundational support prior, during, and after enrollment in the fee-based programs.

All qualified students have access to this assistance. The heart of the program is the student relationship with the Comprehensive Advisor. It is from this starting point that components of support are built as the student transitions to and persists at Wesleyan. Our students work with their Comprehensive Advisor to cover the following areas:

• Specialized academic advising.
• Preferential preregistration for the first three. semesters
• Implementation of accommodations to be used for college classes.
• Development of academic, organizational, and self-monitoring strategies.
• Discussion of priorities and motivational outlook.
• Self-Advocacy and social coaching, as needed.
• Assistive Technology Lab with state-of-the-art software.
• Test Taking Lab including readers, scribes, and word-processing, as needed.
• Note Takers, as needed.
• Connection to services within our program support system.
• Linkage with campus organizations and offices.

The Mentor Advantage Program (MAP) provides an innovative, individualized support developed from research on the transition and persistence of postsecondary students with learning disabilities and from self-regulated learning theory. It is designed to create a bridge to academic regulation in the college environment. The program is composed of the following elements: strategic content tutoring, organizational mentoring, and day-time and evening check-in. The student enrolled in the Mentor Advantage Program will meet with professional tutoring staff several hours each week to organize and carry out coursework preparation. The strategic content tutoring sessions focus on the student learning the content and managing the pace of specific coursework. The organizational strategy sessions will train the student to develop, continue, and adapt overarching plans for the semester. Together, day-time and evening check-in provides enrolled students with structured study times and access to a professional tutor 12.5 hours per day in a specified Learning Center study area. Those interested in participating in this program should contact the Director of the Learning Center.

Learn More

In the Day-time and Evening Check-In program, a professional tutor will be on duty to provide organizational and academic support between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:30 PM Monday through Thursday and 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM on Friday in our Mentor Advantage study area while the College is in session. When students sign in to this area, they may:

• Make or revise to-do lists for the day or week.
• Get started on school work before the first class.
• Work on assignments and readings between classes.
• Review for quizzes and tests.

Students may sign up for this program on a semester-by-semester basis, in keeping with our usual advising process.

The College Study Strategies class (COLL-104) is designed to assist with the academic adjustment to the college setting. Comprehensive Advisors provide conferencing to help students systematically prepare for graduate school entrance examinations. Students may sign up for a meeting to request support in planning out practice tests, analyzing mistakes, and designing a study plan for subsequent practice tests.

Walk-In Tutoring is a peer-tutoring program certified Level I by the College Reading and Learning Association and sponsored by the Learning Center. It provides faculty-recommended tutors who are trained and supervised to assist students with the goal of promoting independence in learning.

Walk-In Tutoring offers help for students in courses offered by many of the academic departments. Tutors can help students: understand how to complete homework and other assignments, determine how and what to study, figure out professor expectations, etc. Students who would like assistance can attend one of the regularly scheduled tutoring sessions offered on a walk-in basis.

Students who need help with a course in a department not listed on the tutoring schedule can contact the Tutor Supervisor. The Tutor Supervisor will organize a study group for that particular course.

Course Offerings

• Study Strategies – COLL-104 / 1 credit – offered both 1st and 2nd quarters – College Study Strategies is designed to help students make the academic adjustment to college life. The small group structure of the course enables the instructors from the Learning Center to assist students with differing needs. In this class, students will: 1) develop a working knowledge of the information processing model of memory, 2) demonstrate an understanding of personal learning style, 3) choose effective academic strategies to understand and remember information associated with current academic course work, 4) learn to monitor academic progress, 5) develop an awareness of personal reasons for attending college.
• Tutor Training Level 1 – COLL-109 / 1 credit – Prerequisites: cumulative B average and Tutor Supervisor permission – Tutor Training Level 1 instructs capable students to become effective tutors. The training is founded upon the principle of facilitating the academic independence of students who use the tutoring service. The class emphasizes tutor guidelines, goals, responsibilities/roles, and strategies appropriate for the tutorial session. This one-quarter course is among the requirements for students preparing to tutor in the Learning Center’s tutoring program. It has been designed to meet the tutor program certification criteria through the College Reading and Learning Association.
• Grad School Test Prep – COLL-305 / 1 credit – Must be junior or senior – Grad School Test Prep helps students systematically prepare for graduate school entrance examinations. This class instructs students in planning to take practice tests, analyzing mistakes, and designing a study plan for subsequent practice tests.

West Virginia Wesleyan College has the unusual capability of providing clinical language processing intervention by using the Lindamood-Bell® Learning approach with a concentrated focus on the needs of the post-secondary student population. Our professional staff members teach within the context of multisensory structured language education. Wesleyan’s Learning Center has used the instructional techniques of Lindamood-Bell® to help students improve their language processing since 1992. Test scores and enhanced academic performance have validated a record of success with our students. Clinical instruction in phonemic awareness, comprehension skills, and application to course work has provided a foundation for making the necessary transition from high school courses to a college-level curriculum. Pre-testing results determine instructional placement. The initial phase of instruction consists of daily one-on-one clinical sessions. Post-testing is completed at significant points during the student’s enrollment. The advanced phase provides instruction in strategies applicable to specific courses within each student’s academic program. Those interested in receiving instruction in this technique should contact the Director of the Learning Center.

Our students continue and/or taper down the number of hours enrolled in the optional programs as they progress through Wesleyan’s curriculum.

Learn More

Director of the Learning Center, Tutoring System

Email: dib_a@253000xa.com
Extension: 8558
Room: Haymond 215D

Anita is a West Virginia native who lives in Barbour County; she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Alderson Broaddus College, double majoring in Political Science and Speech/Communications. In 1995, she furthered her education with a Master of Arts Degree in Special Education from West Virginia University. Anita spent more than 15 years teaching in the public school system in classrooms for students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and mild impairments. Her interests include gardening, kayaking, genealogy, and cooking. Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Comprehensive Advisor, Assistive Technology Coordinator, Tutoring System

Email: selan_lh@253000xa.com
Extension: 8036
Room: Haymond 215C

Lynda Selan first moved to Buckhannon when her mother started to teach Food Science and Nutrition at WVWC in 1970. She earned her B.S. in Art & Design from MIT and worked as an architectural designer. She returned to school for a career change and earned M.A. degrees in elementary and special education. She has worked as a volunteer and as a paid professional with pre-school through college level students. She has a passion to help people succeed and to teach the public that differences are good and necessary for the success of our society. Lynda and her husband, Greg, who has recently retired, have raised three  sons and two daughters, all adults now, and enjoy continuing to learn and to share, especially with their grandchildren.

Learning Center: Comprehensive Advisor

Email: wilt.j@253000xa.com
Extension: 8559
Room: Haymond 215E

Jodee graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and worked in private accounting for five years. She pursued a Masters of Science degree in
Teaching, graduating from Rowan University in 2005. Jodee taught high school math for 11 years in New Jersey, Texas and West Virginia. Jodee enjoys traveling with her family throughout the beautiful state of West Virginia and to her home state of New Jersey. She also enjoys reading and gardening.

Lead Mentor, Strategic Content and Organizational Tutor

Email: buckner_t@253000xa.com
Extension: 8377
Room: Haymond 208

Teresa graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in university studies. She has worked in the Mentor Advantage Program as an organizational mentor and strategic content tutor since the program was developed in 2007. Her professional background includes work in the accounting field and in the hospitality industry. Teresa is active in the community, supporting her children in activities including sports and 4H.

Coordinator of Lindamood-Bell®* Methods

Email: pastorius_w@253000xa.com
Extension: 8091
Room: Haymond 218

Bill earned both of his degrees from West Virginia University – he completed his Bachelor of Science in Education (Secondary English specialization) in 1996 and Master of Arts in Reading, 2003. He taught English at Frankfort High School for 5 years, before moving to Johnson City while his wife did research at East Tennessee State University. After the birth of his daughter in 2009, Bill moved back home to West Virginia and began working as a reading clinician here at Wesleyan’s Learning Center in May of 2010. He has been the Coordinator of Lindamood Bell®* Methods program since August 2011.

Test Lab Supervisor

Email: testlab@253000xa.com
Extension: 8560
Room: Haymond 202

Paula Strawder was born and raised in Buckhannon and she graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1999. She attended Marshall University where she received a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences and a M.A. in Adult Education. Paula then moved to Parkersburg, WV where she resided for 10 years. Paula worked for the WVU Extension Service as the Families and Health Extension Agent and was a high school teacher where she taught family and consumer science. After being away from home for way too long she is very happy to be living in Buckhannon again! She enjoys reading and cooking. She loves spending time with her young nephew with whom she lives.

Strategic Content and Organizational Tutor

Email: bradleypopov.aw.2016@253000xa.com
Extension: 8482

Alex graduated from Bridgeport High School in 2016 and completed his B.S. in applied physics at WVWC in 2020 with minors in mathematics and political science. He spent a summer term at Charles University in Prague and separately participated in two overseas trips with WVWC. Alex plans to continue his education in the near future.

Strategic Content and Organizational Tutor

Email: leigh_e@253000xa.com
Extension: 8377
Room: Haymond 206

Betsy Leigh earned her undergraduate degree in Family Resources and her M.B.A. from West Virginia University She became a stay-home mom when her daughter was born in 1993; her son was born twenty-two months later. In 2002, her children’s elementary school principal suggested Betsy become a substitute teacher. Since that time, Betsy has enjoyed working for the Upshur County (West Virginia) school system, substitute-teaching all grades and subjects until starting at The Learning Center in 2014.

Betsy lives in Buckhannon with her husband, children, and four cats. She is a board member for Brushstroke Ministries and serves on the Breath of God Worship Ministry team. Her favorite thing to do is to sing, especially low harmony for both ministries’ worship teams.

Strategic Content and Organizational Tutor

Email: mendicino_s@253000xa.com
Extension: 8377
Room: Haymond 206

Susan Mendicino grew up in California, PA where she attended California University of Pennsylvania for both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Speech Pathology. She earned her national certification in 1991. After working as a speech pathologist in Delaware for one year, Susan and her husband Michael moved to Buckhannon, WV. Susan worked as a speech pathologist in the Upshur County Schools for 32 years, retiring in September 2013. She began work at the Learning Center in August 2014. Susan has two grown daughters and three grandchildren (one set of twins). She loves animals, working out, and baking.

Strategic and Organizational Tutor

Email: oloughlin.b@253000xa.com
Extension: 8482
Room: Haymond 2

Bryce O’Loughlin has a degree in Film Studies and Digital Media Production from Tulane University. O’Loughlin is a Buckhannon native. He is an instructor/codirector of Buckhannon’s Young Filmmakers’ Camp, and he also has experience as a private music teacher.

Strategic Content and Organizational Tutor

Email: scott_s@253000xa.com
Extension: 8377
Room: Haymond 207

Brooke Scott is a retired educator who taught in the Upshur County (West Virginia) school system for 34 years. She received her undergraduate degree from Morehead State University (Kentucky) in Special Education with a graduate degree in Educational Administration from West Virginia University. She taught in the area of elementary learning disabilities for 27 years before completing her career in the first grade classroom.

Brooke is an assistant leader in 4-H and volunteers for various animal rescue organizations. For several years she and her husband showed basset hounds in the ring and in field competition. Now they own and love rescue greyhounds. Brooke loves being outdoors, hiking, traveling, and reading. Presently she is working on obtaining her Master Naturalist certification.

Test Lab Coordinator

Email: testlab@253000xa.com
Extension: 8560

Charliena was born and raised in Buckhannon, West Virginia. She has a degree in art studio and a minor in education from WVWC. Charliena spent over 20 years as the Pre-K teacher at Island Nursery Kindergarten in Buckhannon before following her heart and running an art studio. When not at Ember Arts fostering artistic skills in both the young and old, Charliena can be found volunteering at the Upshur Parish House or for one of many local fairs and festivals throughout the Mountain State. But her favorite times are spent with her nieces and nephews at their sporting events, livestock shows, at Mim and Poppy’s, and with her husband and son making memories.

Reading Clinician
Email: hedrick.d@253000xa.com
Extension: 8094
Room: Haymond 218C

A Buckhannon native who found success in The Learning Cener and earned her B.A. in Sociology in 1998 from WVWC. Her professional background before joining our team has been in program management and human resources. In her down time, she enjoys going on adventures to new places, or at the river soaking up the sun. She also finds joy spending time at home cooking and entertaining friends and family.