West Virginia Wesleyan College will celebrate a milestone this week as the first students in its new Master of Arts in Counseling Program are set to graduate — a group of emerging counselors ready to help meet the state’s need for qualified mental health professionals.
The program, launched in 2024 through a partnership between West Virginia Wesleyan College, Aetna Better Health of West Virginia and Community Care of West Virginia, was developed to expand access to high-quality training for future counselors. It offers both full- and part-time enrollment pathways designed for students balancing professional and personal roles.
The inaugural class will be recognized during a ceremony on Friday, Dec. 12 in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. All six students completed the full-time track and have achieved notable success, passing the Counselor Education Comprehensive Exam on their first attempt. Four students specialized in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and two chose Addiction Counseling.
Program leaders say the graduates represent more than academic achievement — they embody a commitment to service and healing across West Virginia communities.
“Our students have shown incredible dedication to our shared mission of servant leadership, and they enter the field at a time when our state urgently needs their skilled, compassionate care,” said Dr. Jen Randall Reyes, program director.
Provost Lynn M. Linder said the program was launched with an understanding of the urgent need for mental health professionals across the state.
“Partnering with Community Care and Aetna Better Health has allowed us to turn that understanding into action,” Linder said. “Our graduates are not only well-prepared clinicians — they are empathetic leaders ready to help strengthen the well-being of individuals and communities throughout West Virginia.”
Tommy Schoffler, a tenured full professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at WVWC, saw the master’s in counseling degree as a complement to the somatic work he has undertaken.
“While I don’t believe in teaching acting as therapy, some of the skills I’ve honed in actor training really parallel and even complement counseling techniques,” Schoffler said. “Being a second-career counselor means that I can draw upon my previous experiences to empathize with clients’ struggles. Connecting with that kind of presence and authenticity creates a powerful potential for change.”
Priority deadline for the next cohort of applications is March 1, 2026, with regular deadline March 15, 2026. Visit wvwc.edu/counseling-programs to learn more.
