Wesleyan names Angela Gay Kinkead Dean of the Chapel, Emerita

Community Bulletin

Since joining Vandalia Health, the former Davis Health System has widened access across central West Virginia. Primary care remains the front door — now at five clinics, including Buckhannon Medical Care, backed by a 190-location network. Read more →

This story brought to you paywall-free, courtesy of the My Buckhannon team and our community partners

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – When Rev. Angela Gay Kinkead ’79 returned to her alma mater Friday to speak at Baccalaureate, she stepped into a familiar pulpit where she previously spent 14 years as Dean of the Chapel.

Befitting her status as the longest-serving Dean of the Chapel from 2001-2015, Kinkead was named Dean of the Chapel, Emerita by President James Moore.

Moore said, “It’s our honor to bestow this title upon Dean Kinkead. When I arrived at WVWC as a young faculty member in 2006, it became apparent that Angela Gay was a model of student engagement, care, and mentoring. Her 14 years of service to this College bear this out, and students all over the world have been the beneficiaries of her work.”

Beginning with the 2024 Academic and Leadership Award Ceremony, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life will annually present the Angela Gay Kinkead Award to a student within Religious Life who has demonstrated the ability to unite and move people to action.

Rev. Jonathan Acord, director of Religious and Spiritual Life, said, “The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is thankful to have been granted the opportunity to acknowledge and honor Rev. Angela Gay Kinkead for her devoted service to West Virginia Wesleyan College, The United Methodist Church, and the community. Through her sacrificial work as Dean of the Chapel, she faithfully demonstrated what it means to be a relational leader and encapsulated the Wesleyan theology of uniting knowledge and vital piety.”

Fosters Marketing Group

During Kinkead’s tenure at WVWC, she was awarded West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Community Engagement “Unsung Hero” Award and led 11 Alternative Break trips for students including Elektrostal, Russia; Nashville, Tennessee; New York City; Washington, D.C. and eight work teams to post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, Louisiana involving approximately 200 students, staff and faculty.

Kinkead will retire from her most recent appointment as pastor of Elizabeth Memorial United Methodist Church in Charleston, West Virginia at the end of June.

Local Businesses

St. Joseph's Hospital
Crites Electrical

Recent Stories

Mary Edith “Sally” Young Waddell

Mary Edith “Sally” Young Waddell, 83, of Myrtle Beach, SC, and formerly of Buckhannon, WV, passed away peacefully at her home on April 12, 2026. A retired educator, she leaves a legacy of warmth, kindness, and love. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, August 22.

Obituary Mary Edith “Sally” Young Waddell

Upshur County Sports Calendar

Upshur County’s Aug. 17-23 sports calendar features golf, soccer, volleyball, football and cross country. Highlights include Buckhannon-Upshur’s football scrimmage at Braxton County and Saturday’s home girls soccer match against Parkersburg.