Erica LaRue, who has served as the director of Career Services since 2024, has been selected for the October Non-Classified Staff Salute.
An Oakland, Maryland, native, and University alum, LaRue has been a dedicated member of the Career Services team since 2012, where she currently provides strategic oversight to ensure students are career ready and equipped for success beyond WVU.
In her role, she provides leadership for the Career Services Center and Student Employment Program, driving efforts to help students explore diverse career opportunities, gain meaningful work experience and build valuable connections with potential employers.
“As lifelong Mountaineer fans from western Maryland, my husband and I had always dreamed of living in Morgantown, and when the opportunity to work at WVU arose, it gave us the perfect chance to make that dream a reality,” she said.
LaRue considers her greatest accomplishment to be her willingness to take on diverse roles to best meet the evolving needs of the office and University community.
This comprehensive approach has allowed her to empower students to achieve their career aspirations through personalized guidance, workshops and resources, while also supporting employers in identifying and recruiting top talent to meet organizational goals.
She also played a key role in the redesign of the Career Services website, transforming it into a comprehensive virtual career center. The new platform integrates career services and resources, giving students, alumni, faculty and staff centralized access to job listings, networking opportunities and career advice.
“Beyond my administrative duties, what truly inspires me the most is helping students and alumni discover and pursue their career paths,” she said. “My team and I achieve this by establishing strategic partnerships across the campus community and with employers to create meaningful opportunities that support student growth.”
As a first-generation college student, she always knew she wanted to help young people, though she wasn’t sure how. At the age of 21, she moved to Toledo, Ohio, and landed a job as the coordinator of central stores at Owens Community College. This experience sparked her passion for a career in higher education.
LaRue also worked at Allegany College of Maryland from 2003 to 2012.
She earned her MBA and a bachelor’s degree in business management from WVU, and an associate degree in business from Garrett College.
Outside of work, LaRue is often found at Mountaineer athletic events, tackling DIY projects for her vintage home, or spending quality time with family, friends and the German shepherds, Cash and Bella, she shares with her husband.
Nominate a University employee for a future Non-Classified Staff Salute by sending an email to enews@mail.wvu.edu.