J.B. White

Hometown and State:
Mannington, WV

Major/Department:
Entomology

Biography:
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in environmental protection, J.B. decided to pursue a master’s degree in entomology.

As an undergraduate at WVU, he completed the pest management specialization within the environmental protection major. He has a special interest in systematics, the study of biological diversity and relationships among organisms.

“In my major I have had a lot of hands-on experience in different labs and it’s really helped prepare me for actual work experience, instead of just learning theory. It helps me feel more comfortable and confident in my major,” he says.

Describe your best day as a Mountaineer.
My grades had been good at Fairmont State before I transferred to WVU, but my first semester here I earned my first 4.0 GPA. That was nice, especially since it was a pretty tough semester for me.

How has WVU surprised you?
I went to Fairmont State, which is a smaller campus and there was a lot of one-on-one interaction with professors. I was expecting that one-on-one contact to change when I transferred to WVU, but especially within Plant and Soil Sciences, I found that same interaction with teachers and staff.

What is the best place to study?
The upstairs or downstairs in the study areas of the Evansdale Library. It’s a lot less congested than the Downtown Campus Library.

Why did you choose WVU?
Because of the entomology program. Fairmont State only had a biology program. I came here to be more specialized and set myself up better for grad school.