From GED to Secretary of Transportation: Jimmy Wriston’s Journey of Education, Service, and Community

“Our Communiversity Today,” hosted by Dr. T. Ramon Stuart, President of West Virginia University Institute of Technology, shines a spotlight on collaboration, education, and progress across Southern West Virginia. This episode features an inspiring conversation with Jimmy Wriston, former Secretary of Transportation for the state, and Kassidy Belcher, a local middle school student serving as “President for the Day.” Together, they explore how education, leadership, and service intersect to create opportunities that help our region improve and thrive.

Wriston shares his remarkable journey from earning a GED to leading one of the largest transportation systems in the country, illustrating the transformative power of education and perseverance. He reflects on his years of public service and his current work with CTL Engineering, where he continues to strengthen communities through infrastructure and innovation. Belcher offers her perspective as a future engineer, speaking about goal setting, leadership, and the value of serving others, showing that the next generation is ready to carry the torch forward.

Throughout the discussion, Dr. Stuart emphasizes the spirit of WVU Tech’s community university philosophy: that the community is the university, and the university is the community. Together, they explore how partnerships between education, government, and business can drive lasting change in Beckley and beyond.