Every West Virginia University alum can point to faculty members who made a difference in their education by offering meaningful personal and professional guidance – in some cases, even long after graduation.
Mike Fulton, a 1979 journalism graduate, found support from Guy Stewart, then dean of the School of Journalism, and longtime journalism professor Paul Atkins. He is confident that recent graduates of the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media will cite Vice Dean Diana Martinelli among their key influences.
“You never forget those people who made that much of a difference in your life,” Fulton said. “And I think Dr. Martinelli is that type of person for students right now.”
Fulton and other alumni are honoring Martinelli’s legacy of leadership with a scholarship to benefit future students enrolled in Reed School of Media and Communications programs.
More than 75 supporters have contributed $50,000 to establish the Dr. Diana Martinelli Resilient Leaders Scholarship, which will be awarded to undergraduate students in their junior or senior year. Preference will be given to students who have not received any other private scholarship support as a WVU student.
A faculty member for 20 years, Martinelli has served as vice dean and director of the Reed School since July 2024. She was previously appointed dean of the former Reed College of Media in 2019, after serving as associate dean for eight years and acting dean from 2015–’16. Following a sabbatical, Martinelli will return to a full-time faculty role as the Widmeyer Professor in Public Relations.
Bob Kittle, a 1975 journalism graduate and member of the College’s Visiting Committee, spearheaded the fundraising effort to honor Martinelli, reaching out to fellow alumni to garner support. He said they contributed over $30,000 within just a few days.
“That is a tribute, I think, to the respect with which Diana is held, the admiration with which she is held, and the affection,” Kittle said. “Diana is a very warm person. She’s also a very dynamic leader and a very constructive leader. Everyone wanted to pay tribute to Diana’s many contributions, and we’re going to miss her in that management position.”
Visiting Committee members kept the scholarship a surprise, informing Martinelli at a gathering last fall. She was moved to tears by the gesture.
“I am incredibly moved by the unexpected outpouring of support and the honor of having a scholarship created in my name,” Martinelli said. “It’s been a privilege to play a role in the school’s history and to be surrounded by so many accomplished and dedicated faculty, students, alumni and friends. I can’t imagine a more meaningful tribute.”
Kittle said Martinelli has helped the Reed School and its programs flourish amid rapid changes in the journalism and communications industries. He also applauded Martinelli for steering students, faculty and staff through a rigorous reaccreditation process, along with other achievements.
“Diana is quintessentially a West Virginian, born and raised in West Virginia,” Kittle said. “One of the things that I appreciate is her commitment to improving the caliber of journalism in West Virginia. Diana recognizes that the College of Creative Arts and Media has a role to play in improving journalism in the state. That’s a very tall order, but Diana, I believe, has done a lot to help improve journalism in West Virginia.”
Fulton has known Martinelli since she was a student at WVU. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University and spent nearly 15 years working in public relations and communications roles before moving to academia. She earned her doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and taught at Ohio University before returning to WVU in 2005.
Fulton, who manages the Washington, D.C., office of Asher Agency, noted that Martinelli is more than an administrator. She remains a leading educator, researcher, writer and speaker in the public relations and communications field.
He said the scholarship is a fitting tribute, because it reflects Martinelli’s passion for serving students.
“She’s a student-first person, not only as a teacher but also as an administrator,” he said. “She values the opportunity to give everyone — of all walks of life, all backgrounds — a chance to achieve education, and scholarships allow you to do that.”
Alumni and friends interested in supporting the Dr. Diana Martinelli Resilient Leaders Scholarship can make a gift online or contact Mary Esposito, director of development for the Reed School of Media and Communications, at mesposito@wvuf.org. All gifts are made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
