West Virginia University and GlobalPittsburgh

By George Lies, Grants Administrator, 

Office of International Programs 304-293-7240

In 2010, GlobalPittsburgh extended its programming area beyond western Pennsylvania into the Morgantown, West Virginia area. Our organization’s continual collaboration with West Virginia University’s Office of International Programs has been key to the success of our programming in Morgantown on such topics as energy, shale gas development, higher education, and American culture.

“In less than four months last year, WVU opened gateways to top level officials in 32 countries,” said George M. Lies, of WVU’s International Grants and Development Section. “For about six years, Global Pittsburgh and WVU have worked closely to address critical issues such as climate change and clean energy, as well as U.S. energy security.”

The strength of West Virginia University’s energy resources has been favorably evaluated by numerous participants in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. George Lies, Strategic Planning Grant Administrator, and Hank Oliver, Communications Coordinator, of WVU’s Office of International Programs have been our “go to” contacts for programming.  Our most requested resource in Morgantown is the National Research Center for Coal and Energy, led by Director Dr. Richard Bajura.

The joint hosting of about 40 international professionals in delegations, June through October of 2015, marked the growing collaboration between GlobalPittsburgh and WVU’s International Programs, and the NRCCE. Other units involved have been National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium Facility, Water Research Institute, and experts in energy research and policy.

A dozen of multi-country participants involved in a round table on U.S. Energy Policy and Security enjoyed the sunny day in front of the Mountainlair, Morgantown, WV, after an engaging discourse on the campus of West Virginia University. Photo by Tracy Novak.