Staff

Leah Oldham
Program Manager
leah.oldham@hsc.wvu.edu
Office: 304-293-4692

Leah Oldham is a doctoral candidate in Sociology from West Virginia University, where she also completed her Master's degree in Sociology and a Master's Certificate in Women's and Gender Studies. Her research focus spans violence prevention, gender studies, identity development, and mental health. Throughout her career, Leah has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting youth and young adults across West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, with particular focus on young people navigating the educational system.

Billy Bussey, RBA
Regional Transition Navigator
william.bussey1@hsc.wvu.edu
Office: 304-293-4692

William (Bill) Bussey is a Kingwood, WV native. Bill attended Concord University and has worked as a social worker for 8 years.

Delbert Pope
Regional Transition Navigator
delbert.pope@hsc.wvu.edu
Office: 304-288-3431

Delbert Pope, comes to the RTNS with more than 30 years of non-profit engagement. For the past 10 years, Del served as the Director of Training and Staff Development with CASA of the Eastern Panhandle, Martinsburg, WV.

Kendal L. Stokes
Regional Transition Navigator
kendal.stokes@hsc.wvu.edu
304-290-2308

Kendal received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2021 from West Virginia University Institute of Technology and currently resides in southern West Virginia. Kendal is a dedicated and compassionate professional with extensive experience in both mental health and education. With a passion for supporting youth and young adults, she works to create positive environments that foster growth, healing, and empowerment. Advocating for the well-being and success of young people, Kendal is committed to providing guidance, support, and resources to help them navigate challenges and reach their full potential.

Nikki Vance, M. Ed.
Regional Transition Navigator
nikki.vance@hsc.wvu.edu
304-785-7615

Nikki Vance has over ten years of experience working in the mental health field. She has also enjoyed working as a substitute teacher and helping youth in her community in southern West Virginia.

Emily Cooper
Regional Transition Navigator
emily.cooper@hsc.wvu.edu
(304) 290-8936

Emily Cooper is a Master of Social Work Student at West Virginia University. She currently serves as a Student Navigator with the Regional Transition Navigator Services. Through her time as a Student Navigator, she hopes to gain experience and knowledge of communicating with clients, learning about resources all over the state and incorporate what she learns here into her future career as a social worker.

Sam Wilkinson, MPA
Principal Investigator
samuel.wilkinson@hsc.wvu.edu
Office: 304-293-4692

Sam Wilkinson received a Master’s in Public Administration from West Virginia University. He has spent his professional life focused on identifying problems, planning solutions for them, and then executing those plans. He spent three years as a Teacher/Counselor and a Master Teacher/Counselor in a residential treatment facility. He spent twelve years as a project manager for the West Virginia University Research Corporation working on projects in Public Health, Nutrition/Obesity, and Computer Engineering. He has also experience with various aspects of sobriety/recovery.