John Wilkinson recalls WVU Potomac State College fondly. He graduated in 1978 from PSC and remains connected to the campus to this day. “The campus was a perfect fit for me. It was about the same size as my high school, and I thought the transition to PSC would be a positive experience for this reason. I felt that going straight to the Morgantown campus might be too overwhelming. My dad attended PSC from 1933-1934 which is how I knew about the campus,” John shared.
John’s hometown is Ronceverte, WV, where he attended Greenbrier East High School, graduating in 1976. After graduating from PSC with an Associate of Arts in Forestry in 1978, John took a one-year break and then continued his education at WVU in Morgantown, WV. There he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Education and a Master of Science Degree in Education with an emphasis in Agriculture and Adult Education.
John started his career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an assistant county supervisor and quickly moved up to county supervisor, serving in several different counties throughout West Virginia. He later moved into state and regional positions located in Morgantown, WV, and Huntington, WV, respectively. He ultimately moved to Richmond, VA, to work for the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture).
John’s initial concern when he got to PSC was that he would be lonely, but he met people who have remained life-long friends. He participated in the Agriculture Club, the marching and concert band, the National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Band, and played intramural flag football. John added, “Well, it was supposed to be flag football, but somehow it always ended up being tackle football instead.”
“As a student, PSC was like family — even strangers could be counted on for support. We all knew that we could depend on one another and fall back on one another.” John shared. “Camaraderie is what made PSC so impactful. I was not just a number. I was a person,” John stated.
“My professors were kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. They were extremely supportive. PSC gave me a good educational foundation. I was given the support and direction that I needed to determine where I wanted to go in life. It was a great place to get my mindset straight. I graduated with honors from WVU, and I credit that to my experience at PSC. The support network that was established with my classmates at PSC continued at WVU. We were there for each other and helped each other succeed.
“One class, in particular, set me on a path that I didn’t realize was possible. My advisor recommended a class in personnel management. It didn’t make sense to me at the time, but he felt it was important to prepare me to be a supervisor. It was only ever my goal to get to middle-level management, but I made it to senior-level management. My advisor’s vision launched me further than I imagined I could go.
“As the Director of the Technology Training and Support Program Office with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Customs Service, I managed a team of approximately 325 individuals that were a mix of government employees and contractors. We provided technical support, provided training to more than 60,000 personnel worldwide, and provided support to other external customers interacting with our systems. The personnel management class I took at PSC enabled me to become aware of the intricate details of management and supervision to provide proper support to my staff,” John said.
One person he met while attending Potomac State was Pam Sheirer. She was playing volleyball on the court in front of Reynolds Hall. Their paths continued to cross when they were at WVU. Pam dated John’s roommate and they also had classes in agriculture education together. Approximately 30 years later, in 2009, they reconnected on Facebook. In 2010, they got married.
John and Pam share a passion for WVU Potomac State College. They both serve on the PSC Alumni Association Board of Directors. Pam is currently the president and John previously served as the treasurer of the Alumni Association. They have been instrumental in helping create scholarship programs for PSC students, seeking funding for different programs held on campus, and increasing awareness of the PSC Alumni Association overall.
John has this to share with current students at PSC: “If you come to PSC, you have the potential to develop a network of lifelong friendships. PSC is like home and the people here are like one big family. PSC means something — it meant something to my dad, and it means something to my wife and me. It holds a special place in our hearts.”
John and Pam Wilkinson currently reside in Richmond, VA, and are building their dream house in South Carolina.