BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Student Senate honored Faculty Member of the Year Dr. Coty Martin, assistant professor of political science, and Staff Member of the Year Karen Leventry, an employee with Aladdin Food Service, at the annual Academic and Leadership Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 24, 2022. 

Martin joined the faculty of West Virginia Wesleyan College in August 2017 and also serves as legal studies coordinator and Fulbright campus advisor. 

During his time at Wesleyan, Wesleyan Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa has recognized Martin as Honorary Faculty Inductee in 2021, and he was honored with the Exemplary Faculty Award by the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services in 2019.

“I’m honored each time I walk into my classroom and have the chance to work with our student body,” Martin said. “ The best part of my job is watching students grow as people through the semester and their overall time at Wesleyan.”

“I’m just happy to be part of that experience and that the students enjoy working with me in broadening their understanding of the world around us,” he added.

Martin earned his Ph.D. and master’s degrees from West Virginia University in political science and also holds a master’s degree in international studies from East Carolina University. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from The Ohio State University. His research and teaching interests include contentious politics, security studies, international conflict and pedagogy. 

Leventry has been employed by West Virginia Wesleyan for the past 12 years. Her dedication and commitment to her job as an employee with Aladdin Food Service have earned her this award.

“I’m very honored to be the 2022 Staff Member of the Year,” she said. “The most satisfying thing is the fact that it is the students who voted for me. I always try to do my best on the job, and this award means that my efforts are not unnoticed.”

“My favorite thing about my job is the daily interaction with students, especially international students,” Leventry added. “I get a chuckle at the beginning of the year when they barely say hi. It always takes them about two, three months before they start opening up!”