BUCKHANNON, West Virginia  –  A new academic year also included new faculty bringing a wealth of experience in the sciences, nursing, music, education, English and counseling to West Virginia Wesleyan College. 

Dr. Kelsey Aldrich is a new assistant professor of biochemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Aldrich earned her Ph.D. in chemistry from Duquesne University and her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Grove City College. Her particular area of research is in enzymes. Prior to being hired at WVWC as part of a WV-INBRE faculty recruitment grant, Aldrich spent one year as a visiting assistant professor of chemistry at Kalamazoo College.

“I am excited to continue enzymology research with students,” Alrdrich said.

Jamie Bailey is teaching in the School of Nursing. She brings extensive experience from WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she worked as a staff and charge nurse for 13 years in the Emergency Department and as a staff nurse in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation for 1 ½ years. She holds a Bachelor of Science n Nursing. 

Penny Cutlip, FNP, MSN, RN, will teach in the School of Nursing. She holds a post-grad certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner from Chamberlain University, as well as an MSN in Leadership and Management from Walden University.  and an ASN from Davis & Elkins College. A native of Buckhannon, Cutlip has two daughters and two granddaughters.

“Health care has been my passion for as long as I can remember,” Cutlip said. “I started this path as a nurse tech at the old UHC back in 2004. In my spare time, I like the outdoors, crafting and spending time with my family.” 

Jon Dower holds a Master’s in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and brings eight years teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate levels, focusing on human services and addiction counseling. 

Adam Loudin ‘07 is the new Assistant Professor of Music/Director of Jazz Ensembles and brings a wealth of musical education experience including 10 years as an adjunct music professor at WVWC.   After earning his Bachelor of Music Education from WVWC, Loudin pursued his Master of Music in Jazz Studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. See a previous release here on Loudin’s hire. 

Dr. Jessica Haas is a new assistant professor in the School of Counseling. She was previously core faculty in the counseling department of Stetson University in Central Florida and has seven years of graduate teaching experience in counselor education and supervision. Haas earned her PH.D. from Loyola University in counselor education and supervision and a Master of Science from Loyola in clinical community counseling and pastoral counseling. She graduated from Davis College with a BRE where she studied philosophy of theology and counseling. 

Dr. Leslie Raybuck Malland earned her Ph.D. in Early Modern British Literature from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Arts in English from Arkansas State University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Lyon College. Malland moved to Buckhannon from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she taught as an Assistant Professor at Southern University and A&M College. She previously lectured at the University of Texas Permian Basin and Georgetown College. 

“My current book project ‘Corpse Cultures’ (working title), investigates death and cadaver research in Appalachia,” Malland said. “My previous works focused on the emergence of anatomical research in Early Modern England.”

Dr. Ashley Martucci is the new Director of the School of Education. She holds an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction with emphasis in Early Childhood Education and Administration from West Virginia University, a Master’s of Education in Early Childhood Education with Teaching Certification from James Madison University and a Bachelor’s in Child Development from West Virginia University. With over 15 years of experience in educator preparation and workforce development, Martucci led the creation of online undergraduate programs and previously served as director of the WVU Nursery School. She is excited to be joining West Virginia Wesleyan College. 

Dr. Matt Tolliver ‘05 is an assistant professor in the School of Counseling. He holds a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision, a Master of Arts in school counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from WVWC. “As an alum of WVWC, I value the personal and professional growth that I experienced during my time as a student,” he said. “I felt challenged and supported in ways that I do not think happen at other institutions.

“Becoming a faculty member at Wesleyan continues my family’s legacy of roots with the college,” Tolliver said. “My great-grandmother was a cook in the basement of the Agnes Howard residence hall. My grandfather was a painter with the physical plant. My mother (Patricia Tolliver ‘74) worked with the archives and history branch of the Methodist Conference. I grew up on the campus of Wesleyan playing with action figures in the old Benson House (now known as the Erickson Alumni Center) and later in the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library. As a kid, I participated in community events like Christmas on Campus and baseball and soccer camps (and others I am probably forgetting). I also received the Young Alumni Award in 2012.”

Also new are Dan Anderson (cybersecurity), Denise Campbell (nursing), Mason Lee and Christopher Waters (both in biology and environmental science), Alexander Bradley-Popovich  and Boyd Wolz (technical theatre). 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2025 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan ninth in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 20 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu