Staff Feature

For Robbie Smith, IT is about much more than technology. It’s about people.

“It’s really easy to dissociate technology from people, maybe because of movies like ‘The Terminator,’” said Robbie Smith, executive director for information and technology at Bluefield University. “But people are technology, and technology is people. And the closer we get to understanding that and working with it, the sky is the limit.”

Smith has worked at Bluefield University for nearly seven years. When COVID-19 shut down in-person classes, Smith and other IT professionals worked hard to build systems to support online learning.

For many college students, graduation means saying goodbye to the campus that has been a huge part of their lives for years. However, for two Bluefield University alumnae, graduation didn’t mean leaving behind BU. Instead, it meant returning to campus in new roles.

For Abbie Justis and Elle Gunter, their journeys at BU have come full circle as they have gone from students to staff members. Although their paths to BU were different, both found opportunities at the university that encouraged them to stay after graduation.

For Gunter, Bluefield has always felt like home. When she was looking to transfer from her previous school, BU was willing to work with her even though she was transferring in late. While convenience played a part in her decision, her experience at BU quickly became about much more than just that.

Travis Roberts, Vice President of Enrollment Management & Marketing at Bluefield, serves the university by overseeing traditional admissions and enrollment as well as public relations and university marketing.

Roberts also has another talent – meteorology. Roberts, who graduated from Bluefield College in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, completed a broadcast meteorology program at Mississippi State University and earned the Seal of Approval from the National Weather Association. He initially served the community as a meteorologist at WVVA, a local news station, before returning to Bluefield as a staff member.

After almost four years of service to Bluefield University, Provost Michael Salmeier is bidding farewell to BU.

Bluefield University has added a new staff member to its student development team, but she’s no stranger to BU. A former volleyball player for the Rams, alumna Joslynn Evans graduated last year and returned to serve as the director of student activities.

Although she worked as a school librarian for a couple of years, Paula Beasley prefers working with college students. 

“You guys are a little bit more interested in education as opposed to just running through and grabbing all the picture books,” Beasley said.

At Bluefield University, safety about more than patrols and rules. It is about teamwork, trust, and leadership. Campus security starts with its supervisor, Gary Ruth, who has dedicated decades to keeping students and staff safe.

Get to know Bluefield University’s veteran athletic trainer, Josh Shroyer. With years of experience and dedication, Shroyer plays a vital role in keeping student-athletes healthy and game ready. Discover what it truly takes to be an athletic trainer and why for Shroyer it is more than just a job — it’s a passion for helping […]

Photos provided by Rampage student photographer Emily Sansalone. Rilla Cooper has joined the Academic Center for Excellence and Careers (ACEC) as the director of student success. Cooper comes to Bluefield University with 16 years of experience teaching high school juniors and seniors English and study skills, as well as helping them submit college applications. She […]

Wayne Pelts never liked history.

“All we did was define terms and answer questions and take quizzes,” he said.

As an English major at Bluefield State University, Pelts prayed he’d never have to take social studies. But a world history class changed his mind. After graduation, Pelts started teaching high school history.

Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Elle Gunter. Kristen Parker has been named Bluefield University’s new dean of students. She is no stranger to BU and its students as she has served on staff before and is a Bluefield alumna. During the 2024-2025 academic year, Parker served as the sports information director with a new […]

Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Malique Gordon. Dean of Students Chris Johnson is saying goodbye to Bluefield University after seven years on campus, including four years as a student and three years as an employee. During his four years as a student, Johnson studied criminal justice and helped with Student Ministries before graduating in […]

Photo courtesy of bluefield.edu. At Bluefield University, the heartbeat of its thriving community is reflected in the work of individuals like Daniel Mullins, whose creativity and dedication help capture the essence of university life and share it with the world. As BU’s creative content and social media coordinator, Mullins’ role is far from typical, blending […]

All Bluefield University faculty and staff members care about BU students and are committed to helping them grow and succeed during their journey at Bluefield. But one staff member in particular, sets himself apart by the way he loves, nurtures and cares for BU students, and that staff member is campus pastor Mason West. West […]