Jan Lauren Boyles

Director of Advising
Jan.Boyles@mail.wvu.edu
304-293-3505 x5414

Jan Lauren Boyles serves as Director of Advising for WVU’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism. She conducts research on enrollment trends and organizes the School’s recruitment and retention efforts. Boyles currently instructs JRL 115, an introductory course for direct admit students, as well as several upper-division print journalism courses. In 2009, her teaching efforts were recognized by the SOJ student body, as she was one of two recipients of the SOJ’s Golden Quill Teaching Award.

In addition to teaching, she serves as an undergraduate academic adviser for direct admits and coordinates New Student Orientation sessions. In 2009, Boyles was the inaugural recipient of the University’s Nicholas G. Evans Advising Award, which annually recognizes two WVU faculty members for outstanding service and mentorship.

Boyles also currently serves as an elected member of the University’s Faculty Senate Executive Committee, the University’s Transportation/Parking committee and the WVU Office of the Registrar Advisory Council. She also chairs two Faculty Senate committees, which address student instruction and University-wide committee assignments.

A native of Fairmont, W.Va., Boyles earned her undergraduate in journalism (news-editorial) from WVU. She was selected by WVU officials as a Rhodes Scholar candidate and as a member of the WVU Order of Augusta, the highest University-wide academic distinction bestowed annually to eight graduating seniors. She is also a former newspaper reporter for The Dominion Post (Morgantown, W.Va.), Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette and Charleston (W.Va.) Daily Mail.

Boyles received her master’s degree in journalism from WVU. Her primary academic emphases include blogging and hyperlocal media. She has also completed coursework toward a Ph.D. in political science.

In addition to her academic work, Boyles wrote a chapter for “Cancer Stories: Lessons in Love, Loss and Hope,” a student-produced book about five cancer patients that was published in 2005 by the WVU Press.