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Over 1,000 articles of clothing

The former student newspaper office on the second floor of the Wilson Student Union has been transformed into a welcoming space with bright yellow chairs, a changing room, mirrors and a yellow mural on a black brick wall. Dress shirts, pants, dresses, shoes and ties already fill the racks.

Renee Lester, executive director of Career Services at WVSU, said more than 1,000 business-professional clothing items have been received. Most of the clothing is used, but Lester and her staff also have shopped clearance sales at Kohl’s and Old Navy.

Students may visit the closet twice in an academic year and get four free articles of clothing at each visit.

First impressions

WVSU President Ericke Cage said first impressions matter, and the Career Closet will help students make an “incredible impression.�

“What we’ve noticed is that folks who are brilliant, folks who are change-makers — they don’t get an opportunity to show the folks what they are able to do because of what their appearance looks like,� Cage said. “It’s important that our students — regardless of their financial means — have an opportunity again to have the clothes that they need … to show that they are ready to compete.�

Public-private partnership

The Career Closet began when natural gas company Diversified Energy approached the university about a year ago.

Hannah Hutson, manager of community and government relations, said she had a personal passion for this type of service. She learned that West Virginia University had a career closet and wanted to start one at WVSU. Diversified Energy has given $10,500 to the project.

“A common misconception is, when college students graduate, that they can afford whatever expense,� she said. “They always say, ‘Look the part, dress for the job you want,’ then when [students] go out to look for professional clothes, they see the price tag, and they’re instantly turned away.�

Lester, a State alumna, also shares a personal connection to the project. She helped create a career closet at a previous job.

“As a first-generation student coming from a low-income background, my mother didn’t have the resources to go out and provide new-to-me clothing,� she said. “Having a resource like [the Career Closet] would have assisted me in making me feel more confident.�

Accessible style

Student Government Association President Lucina Suah, a senior at State, said clothing is hard to find for students, especially clothing that fits their style. She added that she appreciates the range of sizes (S to XXXXL) and style variety in the closet.

“Everyone’s style is easily accessible here,� she said.

Students like Suah need the clothes for their internships, work-study programs and campus career conferences, in addition to post-college jobs.

“Many of these programs require our students to dress professionally,� she said, “and the closet will [make] that transition much smoother.�

WVSU said its 3,450 students will be notified about how to sign up for private appointments at the Career Closet.