Martha Sturms to retire after decades of service to the WVU School of Dentistry

For generations of students, faculty, and staff at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry, Martha Sturms has been a steady presence, trusted resource, and strong advocate. After nearly 40 years of dedicated service to the School, she will retire at the end of August.

“Martha has served as the consistent cornerstone of leadership at the School of Dentistry for nearly 40 years,” Dr. Stephen Pachuta, dean, said. “As the senior administrative assistant for eight deans, her vast and comprehensive knowledge of all administrative operations at the school has been integral to the many successes and accomplishments of our School. The relationships that she has built across the Health Sciences Center and University will continue to serve our school for years to come. Her decades of service to our School of Dentistry and the dental profession are greatly appreciated and have made a significant positive impact, as evidenced by the many friendships she has made at West Virginia University. We will miss her collegial professionalism and always positive energy.”

Sturms began her career at WVU in 1974 in the Department of Operative Dentistry. After stepping away in 1981 to raise her son, she returned to the School in 1994, ultimately fulfilling the role of senior administrative assistant in the Office of the Dean. Throughout her career, she worked alongside eight deans, providing continuity, institutional knowledge, and a steady presence during much of the School’s history.

Known for her willingness to help others, meticulous attention to detail, and strong support of the School, Sturms has been a trusted advisor, mentor, and friend to faculty, staff, and students alike, helping generations of clinicians as they prepared to improve the oral health of West Virginians.

Sturms played an integral role in the School's success, providing exceptional support to its leadership while managing the operations of the Dean's Office. She coordinated complex administrative matters, organized meetings and special events, prepared communications, and helped ensure the School advanced its mission and strategic priorities.

Her extraordinary dedication has been recognized many times throughout her career.

She was named the WVU School of Dentistry Employee of the Year in 1999, received a limited-edition sesquicentennial WVU Values Coin in 2018 for exemplifying the Mountaineer Value of service, and was honored with the WVU School of Dentistry Alumni Association Achievement Award in 2019 for her exceptional service to the School, the state, and the profession.

Most recently, in 2025, Sturms received the WVU Impact Award in recognition of her exceptional contributions and sustained excellence, and was again recognized in 2026 when she was inducted as an honorary member of the Alpha Beta Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. Honorary membership is reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of dentistry.

While awards acknowledge her many accomplishments, the impact she has had on the School and the people she served cannot be measured. As Sturms begins her well-earned retirement, the WVU School of Dentistry celebrates her extraordinary career and extends its gratitude for her commitment and service.

As the School celebrates Sturms's remarkable career and prepares for her retirement, it has begun the search for its next senior administrative assistant in the Office of the Dean. More information is available on the WVU Careers website.

Photo at Top: Dr. Stephen Pachuta, dean, and his wife, René, present a quilt to Martha Sturms in recognition of her retirement after many years of service to the WVU School of Dentistry. The quilt was made by René and included squares with signatures from members of the WVU School of Dentistry community.

-WVU-

jw/7/27/26

CONTACT: Jessica Wilmoth
Director of Marketing and Communications
WVU School of Dentistry | WVU Dental