The devastating floods that killed 23 West Virginians and destroyed 1,200 homes in June 2016 prompted the governor to declare a state of emergency in 44 of the state’s 55 counties and led the federal government to release “major disaster” funds to help respond to the state’s dire needs. It also revealed the depth and breadth of West Virginia University’s commitment to our state, a commitment that continues months after the event. As our panelists will discuss, mere hours after the flooding had begun, the university mobilized many resources, both on campus and across the state through our Extension offices—including vaccines, medical personnel and student and faculty volunteers. Volunteers and donations from the WVU community inspired creative quick thinking on the part of our first-responders, and the depth and breadth of WVU’s response has changed the way we look at crisis intervention. In the weeks and months since the floods, many experts at WVU have turned their talents and attention to the aftermath of the floods, the scope of the damage, how best to help people and communities recover and how to plan for future crises. All across the university—from our Land-Use Clinic to our Extension Service, and from the WVU Hospital System to our Center for Service and Learning—WVU has committed to making sure recovery does happen, in unprecedented synthesized efforts and programs that may well redefine the land-grant mission for the future.
Steve Bonanno's Bio
Steve Bonanno is Dean and Director of WVU Extension Service. Through Extension, WVU provides a “mini campus” in each of the state’s 55 counties. The work at these locations addresses a wide variety of community issues via a nontraditional mix of learners, faculty, staff and volunteers. Part of an educational network of 105 land-grant universities, WVU-ES takes the helping hand of West Virginia University directly to thousands of West Virginians in communities across the state. Before taking on the task of leading Extension’s 450 faculty and staff members, Bonanno served as the director of the Community, Economic and Workforce Development unit. He also spent 14 years as Director and Deputy Director of Pleasant County’s Emergency Services. That background helps him lead programming and develop resources for WVU Extension projects, including the West Virginia State Fire Academy and Junior Fire Fighter Camp. Bonanno is past-chair of the Northeast Extension Directors Association and a member of the National 4-H Leadership Committee, assisting in developing national-level policy for the 4-H youth program.
Steve Bonanno
Dean and Director, Extension Service
Plenary Session: 9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.