Distinguished Service Award

Lana Regina Anderson ’68

Few alumni have given as much to Mountain State University as Lana Anderson. For her dedicated service and contributions to the benefit of this institution, Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award is presented to Lana Regina Anderson ’68.

Lana Anderson was first in her family to attend college. She knew that she would need more education to plan and secure her own future. Lana’s mother had a friend named John Van Dyke, who was the dean of Beckley College at that time. Knowing Lana wanted to go to college, she made an appointment for her daughter to meet Mr. Van Dyke the night before the fall term began in 1964. He enrolled her in classes on the spot, and she started college the next day.

Lana earned an advanced secretarial certificate, and then her Associate of Arts degree from Beckley College in 1969. She went on to graduate from Bluefield State College with a Bachelor of Science in education degree, and received her Master of Arts degree from West Virginia Graduate College. She continued her education with doctoral studies through the Marshall University/West Virginia University doctoral program.

Lana has been a member of the Mountain State University family for over 39 years. She’s served under the leadership of four presidents and one interim president in many capacities—as administrative assistant to the president, director of admissions, academic dean, vice president of academic and student affairs, vice president of student services and information technology, vice president of accreditation, and director of testing. She has advised many students over the years; now she draws on her broad experiences as she continues to counsel students as the director of student advising services.

Lana’s achievements have resulted in many positive changes for the institution during her career. She co-authored the first self study for MSU’s initial accreditation which began in 1977. After MSU received accreditation in 1981, she directed the self study processes for the accreditation renewal in 1988, for the approval of bachelor’s programs in 1991 and several years later for the master’s programs, for the comprehensive evaluations in 1994 and in 1998, which resulted in a 10-year accreditation approval.

She initiated the first cap and gown ceremony for commencement in 1983 and planned and directed the ceremonies for the next fifteen years. She developed the first faculty and student handbooks and has been instrumental in planning and organizing many of our course catalogs. She has researched and developed the curricula for many university programs.

Lana lives in Beckley with her husband of 35 years, Don. They have one son, Todd, and daughter-in-law, Amy, and a new grandson, Kaleb Jennings. She is a member of the Junior Business and Professional Women’s Club and the American Association of University Women.