About GSE

In fall, 2015, the Governor's Schools had a dream. It was to create a brand new school for students who are interested in the future of West Virginia--students with the mindset , "I can make a difference in the business outlook of our state." With the state's shrinking budget, it almost seemed like a pipedream, but with careful financial planning and with financial assistance and enthusiasm from Marshall University, the dream became reality. The inaugural session of the West Virginia Governor's School of Entrepreneurship hosted 54 young entrepreneurs and some left eager to start their own business. One student reports, "With the lessons I learned at GSE, I am running my own successful business...and I'm only a junior. If you have the chance to do this and you don't...well, what can I say?"

To share that dream-realizing experience, WVGSE offers high-school students the chance to dream about a new business or product and then make it happen. Young innovators are thrown into an "accelerator" atmosphere where in three short weeks, they learn about business models, design thinking, and scaling new startup ventures.

There are team competitions, a pitch competition, and the opportunity to actually launch a new business venture. In fact, every young innovator will be an entrepreneur by the end of GSE at West Virginia University in 2019. Read through the information provided in the links in the last column at the bottom of this page to see if you have the fire to become a West Virginia entrepreneur see if you have the re to become a West Virginia entrepreneur.

Dr. Elizabeth Vitullo, dean

This is the second year as Dean of the Governor’s School of Entrepreneurship for Dr. Elizabeth Vitullo and she is eager to help select and work with the GSE Class of 2019.

She is the Assistant Dean of Strategic Initiatives at the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics. In that role she will execute special projects and initiatives such as experiential learning, outreach efforts and coordination of the B & E resources with the needs of the university and the state.

Vitullo has been at WVU for 14 years, recently serving as the B & E Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs. She earned an undergraduate degree at the University and the MBA and PhD degrees at WVU.

Dr. Vitullo has been at WVU for 14 years, recently serving as the B & E Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs. She earned the BS and MS degrees at the University of Toronto and the MBA and PhD degrees at WVU.

Sherry Keffer, state coordinator

Governor's Schools of W. Va

Sherry Keffer was a public school teacher in Fayette County for 32 years before taking the reins as Director of Governor’s Schools in 1999.

She holds the B.A. degree from Marshall University and she earned the M.A. degree from the Marshall University Graduate College. Her teaching certifications includesEnglish, journalism, math 5-12, and gifted education. Mrs. Keffer has been involved with Governor’s Schools since 1984, when the first Governor’s Honors Academy opened.

She oversees the Honors Academy, the School for the Arts, the Governor's STEM Institute, and the Governor’s School of Entrepreneurship. Mrs. Keffer is also the president of the National Conference of Governor's Schools. From 1999-2004, she was also Coordinator of Gifted Education for the West Virginia Department of Education.