Joshua Meadows and Lori Hostuttler have been recognized for their exceptional service to the University, students and community.
Joshua Meadows is the recipient of the Ethel and Gerry Heebink Award for Distinguished Beginning Services, which recognizes a faculty or staff member who has provided distinguished service to West Virginia within eight years of their WVU employment. It is one of two awards established by David Heebink in 1982 in memory of his parents, Ethel and Gerry Heebink, two former University employees.
Meadows is a service assistant professor in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics Department of Management Information Systems and Supply Chain. He also serves as the director of Data Driven WV, an outreach center that connects organizations with WVU students and faculty to provide data-driven, technical insights and solutions. Under his direction, the center engages students in high-impact projects that directly benefit West Virginia’s economy, infrastructure and workforce.
Meadows is also recognized for tirelessly advocating for digital engagement and technological empowerment in West Virginia. Specifically, his leadership in advancing the implementation of the $1.2 billion in federal broadband funding through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program has significantly advanced prosperity for all West Virginians.
Finally, Meadows is also honored for playing a pivotal role in shaping the WVU Cloud Analytics Fellowship Program, an initiative to integrate cloud technologies and advanced analytics into the University’s curriculum. His leadership in technology education, student engagement, and economic development has profoundly impacted West Virginia and the Appalachian region.
As the 2025 Heebink Beginning Service Award recipient, Meadows will receive a $2,000 professional development honorarium.
Lori Hostuttler is the recipient of the Ethel and Gerry Heebink Award for Distinguished Extended State Service, which recognizes a faculty or staff member who has provided distinguished service to West Virginia for more than eight years.
Hostuttler is a University librarian and director of the West Virginia and Regional History Center, which is recognized for its role in documenting the history of our state, region, and nation. Her work includes delivering educational programming, public events, partnerships, and service to foster educational experiences and to preserve archival research materials documenting the history and experiences of West Virginians.
A devoted public historian, Hostuttler has spent her career ensuring that the Center’s materials are accessible and preserved. One such example includes her contributions to and oversight of West Virginia History OnView, the Center’s most heavily used database. She is committed to observing the best practices of the archival profession to protect those records’ integrity in perpetuity.
In addition, Hostuttler has traveled all over the state meeting with former miners, poets, labor leaders, environmentalists, and others to convince them of the value of preserving their history. She has acquired significant external funding to support this historical preservation work. Most noteworthy is her work supporting the West Virginia Feminist Activist and Women’s History Collection initiative with funding that helped to identify and add 30 new archival collections documenting previously unknown stories of women’s contributions and achievements in West Virginia history.
Hostuttler is also recognized for her commitment to mentoring students who learn community collaboration, archival processing, digital history, and research skills that serve communities across the Mountain State.
As the 2025 Heebink Extended Service Award recipient, Hostuttler will receive a $3,000 professional development honorarium.
“This year’s recipients of the University’s highest awards in service are nothing short of exceptional,” said Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Paul Kreider. “They represent the very best at WVU and go above and beyond to fulfill our land-grant mission each and every day.”
Award recipients will be recognized during a faculty and staff awards reception at Blaney House on April 16.