WVU mom says campus experiences shaped her children in meaningful ways

Cindy Robeson — an upstate New York native shown here with three of her children, Zack Barwinczak, Justin Robeson and Bethany Barwinczak — said she has come to love and appreciate all WVU has to offer students, especially her children who all found their way to the Morgantown Campus. (WVU Photo/Mark Webb)

If Stumptown Ales owner Cindy Robeson got a college experience do-over, she’d pick West Virginia University without hesitation. Her confidence in that choice, she said, comes from watching three of her children blossom on the Morgantown Campus.

Story by WVU Today 
Photos by Mark Webb

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

As the owner of a popular and ever-expanding West Virginia-born business and civic volunteer extraordinaire in Tucker County, Robeson rarely has the luxury of extra time to spend on do-overs, so she finds satisfaction in living vicariously through her children’s experiences.

Making a home in the Mountain State
Robeson was born and raised in upstate New York and moved to Davis with her husband, Jon, more than 20 years ago.

“We were living in northern Virginia at the time, and Jon and I loved this area because of the seasonal aspect of it,” she said. “We were going to buy a little vacation cabin, or something, and then we saw a bed and breakfast for sale. My dream was to run a bed and breakfast. So that’s what we did.”

The couple ran the Meyer House Bed and Breakfast for 12 years — her dream, before opening a brewery — his dream.

Jon is in charge of the brewing side while Cindy handles the business end of Stumptown, managing the front of the house, and you can often find her behind the bar chatting with customers and pouring beer.

The couple’s five children have grown up in the family business and Robeson said she hopes they’ll stay connected to it.

Leaving the nest
Robeson said she’s given her children the opportunity to explore any colleges they were interested in as they moved through high school and faced graduation.

“I tell them all the time: ‘You can go to any school that you want. Wherever your grades get you,’” she said. “And the fact that three of them, so far, have chosen WVU has been amazing.”

When her eldest son Zack made the choice first, her heart was full, she said. 

“It was emotional having your first child go. I knew he was only an hour and a half away. So, if there was anything that needed to happen, I could be there in a moment’s notice, or at least an hour and a half’s notice. It was the right fit for him, and it was the right fit for me.”

Robeson is elated the next two children in line — Bethany and Justin — also chose WVU. 

“Every single one of them became the people they are because of WVU. It definitely changed Zach. Bethany definitely grew and matured. She loved it there and she really dialed in on what her future was going to be there. Justin — I could see the excitement in his eyes the summer before leaving, I know this is right for fit for him. I could see it in all their eyes. And as a mama, you know if your kid is on the correct path or not. I’m so proud of them all.”

WVU helped her children figure out exactly who they are, Robeson added.

“My line is always: ‘You be you; you do you.’ As soon as you realize you are you and no one else, you’ll succeed. I think going to WVU and experiencing life and challenges helped my children become sure of who they are.”

Looking forward to campus visits
With three kids in Morgantown at different times, the Robesons have found themselves on campus often and that’s just fine by Cindy. She enjoys how welcoming the campus community is.

“No matter who you are or how you choose to live your life, WVU gives everybody the same opportunities. For a larger campus, it’s easy to get around, and the students, staff and administration seem very open and honest and welcoming. Mountaineer pride is everywhere. And gosh, if I got to go to college again, I would totally go to WVU.”

As a mother, the safety of her children is always top of mind, and Robeson said she feels 100% confident in their well-being on campus. She said she also appreciates the communication lines available to parents and informational organizations like the Mountaineer Parents Club.

“If a parent’s concerned about a child, your questions will be answered,” she said. “They’re very good at maintaining an open relationship with parents and have so many safety features on campus when your kids are out.”

Coming back home
Zack has since returned to Davis to join the family business. Bethany returned home as well and works in the brewery part time, but spends her days learning the banking world where her mother reports she continues to grow into the person she’s meant to be.

Robeson doesn’t expect that Justin will return to Stumptown once he finishes his civil engineering program but is confident that he will “do good things,” in large part because of his growth and experience at WVU.

As for the youngest two children who still haven’t had to make the choice about which college is in their future, Robeson admits she’s quietly holding out hope they find their way to WVU, too.

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