Dr. Matthew Hottle named director of nursing program at Potomac State College

Potomac State College of West Virginia University has a new Director of Nursing in Dr. Matthew Hottle, who also serves as a board-appointed chairperson and an assistant professor of nursing. The School of Nursing at Potomac State College first launched in 2018 by founder Dr. April Shapiro, who is now retiring and passing the torch to Dr. Hottle, whom she hired about a year after the program was established.

According to an article on Potomac State College’s website, Dr. Hottle explained how he came to the nursing program thanks to Dr. Shapiro. He is quoted as saying, “I came in about a year after the program started. You cannot even mention the Potomac State College School of Nursing without referencing April. She is all over this building, from the studs up. They were adding faculty as the program was growing. I was working at Garrett Hospital at the time, and one of the nursing instructors there gave April my name and April sent me an email asking if I was interested in applying for a position that had become open. I was very impressed with all of it. And it was a chance to work in the WVU system.”

After first earning his nursing degree from Fairmont State University, Hottle began working with the Garrett Medical Surgical team, and then became an emergency room nurse for the next nine years. During his time as an emergency room nurse, Hottle began interacting with the students from Allegany College of Maryland who were completing their clinical hours at Garrett Hospital, which essentially changed the trajectory of his career.

Hottle explained, “Working in the emergency room, we had students then come to work in the ER. I really liked working with the students. So, then I got my master’s degree so I could teach, and I switched a little bit. I was teaching full time and working in the ER as needed. Having those students in the ER inspired me to want to teach. It’s so rewarding to be working with a student and see that lightbulb click. And to see a student then go on in his or her life and be successful. It’s been very rewarding to be teaching.” 

Once he started teaching at Potomac State College, Dr. Shapiro suggested that he earned his PhD. When Dr. Shapiro later announced she was planning to retire, it was made known that Dr. Hottle was a frontrunner to become her replacement. 

Dr. Shapiro said of Dr. Hottle, “Matthew will do a wonderful job. I have no doubt the program is in excellent hands. I feel better about retiring knowing Matthew is stepping into this role. He will do great things. He has a passion for teaching and a passion for learning that the students respond to.”

Dr. Hottle said of his plans for his time as director of the program, “My goals or objectives are to build upon the great foundation we already have in the nursing program. I want to expand on what’s already here and created. And of course, our goal as a department is continuing to produce quality nurses.”

The traditional nursing program is already full for the Fall 2026 cohort, with 24 students entering the program. The department also recently launched an LPN-to-BSN program.

Speaking of the advantages students will have when attending the programs, he said, “I think there are many advantages to attending Potomac State College for nursing. You get the WVU education at a smaller campus. In Morgantown, they have classes with 80 students. Here, we have 24, and we limit the program to 24 new students a year. You have instructors here who get to know you personally. We know our students so well here that I can tell when one of them is having a bad day and needs some extra attention. We take notice of those details here, and we can take a student aside for some one-on-one conversations. We have an absolutely amazing faculty here. I am surrounded by very talented people who have backgrounds in many different areas. I have all the support I need here to continue to move this program forward, and more importantly, the students have all the support they need to be successful.” 

For more information about Potomac State College, visit the school’s website.