Barbara "Bobbie" Gibson Warash

Barbara “Bobbie” Gibson Warash was inducted into the inaugural College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. She was previously inducted into the College of Education and Human Services Hall of Fame in 2018.

Warash earned her undergraduate and doctoral degrees from West Virginia University and a master’s degree from Florida State University. Early in her career, she served as education director at North Central West Virginia Head Start before joining the WVU faculty.

For 38 years, Warash directed the WVU Nursery School, also known as the Child Development Laboratory, which provides observation, practicum, and student teaching opportunities for WVU students in child development and family studies. Under her leadership, the school became nationally recognized for innovative practices in early childhood education and for connecting research with teaching and community engagement. She also served as a professor of child development and family studies in the College of Education and Human Services and holds the title of professor emerita.

Warash taught more than 16 courses, published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, presented more than 70 conference papers, and secured numerous research grants. She was active in the West Virginia Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Families and served on multiple state-level committees devoted to children and education.

Her honors include the Ethel and Gerry Heebink Award for Distinguished State Service from WVU (2005), the Centennial Laureate Award from Florida State University (2010), and recognitions for Outstanding Teacher, Outstanding Service in Family and Consumer Sciences, and Outstanding Service Contributor.