In a tragic incident that has deeply impacted the West Virginia University community, Erin Bunner, a longtime and well-respected staff member, passed away in an apparent drowning accident on June 26, 2025, in Marion County, West Virginia. She was 48 years old.
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👩💻 About Erin Bunner
Erin Bunner served as the Director of Teaching and Learning Applications in WVU Information Technology Services (ITS), a role she took on in 2023 after many years of dedicated service to the university. Her work helped improve the digital tools and resources used by faculty and students across WVU’s campuses, especially during WVU’s post-pandemic shift toward hybrid learning and educational technology upgrades.
She had been with the university since 2006, working her way up through various roles in IT and academic support services. Her colleagues described her as deeply committed, quietly brilliant, and always ready to lend a hand or a kind word.
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🗨️ Tributes Pour In
Many WVU faculty and staff members expressed their grief and admiration for Erin in internal university memos and public posts:
> “She was more than a coworker — she was a mentor, a friend, and a bright spirit who brought people together,” said one ITS team member.
> “Her impact on WVU’s academic tech landscape is profound. So much of what we now take for granted in our digital classroom systems had her fingerprints on it.”
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📍 Details of the Incident
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office reported that the apparent drowning occurred on June 26, and no foul play is suspected at this time. The specific location and circumstances have not been publicly disclosed out of respect for the family’s privacy.
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📅 Celebration of Life
A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for:
Date: Sunday, July 7, 2025
Location: Fairmont, WV (specific venue TBA)
Friends, family, colleagues, and former students are encouraged to attend or submit written tributes to be read during the service.
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🌼 Legacy
In her nearly two decades at WVU, Erin Bunner left a lasting legacy—not only in her professional contributions but in the lives she touched.
WVU is encouraging community members to honor her memory by donating to the Erin Bunner Educational Technology Fund, which will support future innovation in digital teaching tools at the university. A memo
- rial scholarship may also be announced later this year.
