Join the Office of the Provost and WVU’s Benedum Distinguished Scholars for an evening of dialogue about research, passion and purpose.

Scheduled for Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m., the 2024 Benedum Scholars Showcase will be an in-person event at the Gladys G. Davis Theatre of the WVU Creative Arts Center. A live-streaming option will also be available for virtual viewers on the website.

Styled after James Lipton’s Emmy-award winning series “Inside the Actors Studio,” WVU’s “Inside the Scholars Studio” will highlight short videos of the faculty members who were named as the Benedum Distinguished Scholars last spring, followed by a live panel discussion and Q&A session. Honorees from the 2022-2023 academic year include:

Vagner Augusto Benedito, professor of genetics and plant physiology in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, who was selected as the Benedum Distinguished Scholar in Biosciences and Health Sciences for his significant research contributions to the cutting edge of plant genetics and physiology;

Michael Sherwin, professor of photography in the College of Creative Arts, who was selected as the Benedum Distinguished Scholar Award in the Humanities and the Arts for his seminal project “Vanishing Points,” a decade-long research, travel and artistic production that is both a book and a series of photographs made across 13 states; and 

Weichao Tu, associate professor of space physics in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, who was selected as the Benedum Distinguished Scholar in Physical Science and Technologies for her creative development of new and comprehensive models of radiation belt particle dynamics.

Associate Provost for Faculty Development and Culture Melissa Latimer will serve as host and discussion moderator. 

Additional details about the event and the honored scholars can be found on the Office of the Provost’s website at https://provost.wvu.edu/benedum-scholars-showcase. A recording will be made available on the website after the event.