When Shanté Ellis walks through the doors of West Virginia State University's Economic Development Center each morning, she's not just settling into a new office. She's stepping into a role she sees as a bridge — between the university and the community it serves, between small business owners and the resources they need, and between generations of West Virginians looking to build something of their own.

Ellis' appointment as director of the center was announced in June, and she arrived with a plan already taking shape: expand the center's business resources, deepen its community partnerships and open new educational doors for the West Side neighborhood it calls home.

"I plan to focus on making the EDC a resource for small businesses, entrepreneurs and community members by strengthening partnerships, increasing outreach and providing training and support for business development," Ellis said. "[The EDC] has a strong foundation."

From Brooklyn to the Boulevard

Ellis's path to Charleston's Kanawha Boulevard started more than 500 miles away, in Brooklyn, New York. She's called West Virginia home since 2016, and in that time she's built a career centered on lifting others, first in education, now in economic development.

She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a master's degree in education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction, and a certificate in civic engagement from Harvard University.

Her work has long centered on inclusive leadership and expanding access to opportunity, themes that earned her the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence's Visibility Award in 2024 for her support of diverse communities across the state.

A hub on the West Side

The WVSU Economic Development Center, located at 1506 Kanawha Blvd. W., has served as a launching pad for entrepreneurs on Charleston's West Side since 2005. It offers business and entrepreneurship training, leasable office space, and meeting and training rooms for businesses and community groups alike.

Ellis wants to build on that foundation rather than reinvent it. Her plans include expanding the center's business training programs, developing new mentorship opportunities, and rolling out initiatives designed to reach people the center hasn't always reached, including educational programming for children and technology instruction for seniors.

She's also planning a podcast spotlighting the work of WVSU's Extension Service and the entrepreneurs building businesses across the region.

For Ellis, the appointment marks the start of a new chapter for both her and the center.

"By building on existing resources, we hope to provide even greater value to the wider community," she said.

Those interested in learning more about the center and its programs can contact Ellis at shante.ellis@wvstateu.edu or 304-720-1407.