As the new director of the WVU Regional Research Institute, Heather Stephens is developing a plan for the next chapter of the Institute.
Established more than five decades ago, RRI is internationally recognized for its interdisciplinary research on economic and social development, particularly in the Appalachian region.
Stephens began as the RRI director in January and succeeds Randall Jackson, who retired in June 2022 after serving as the Institute’s director from 2001–2022.
Stephens, a regional economist, plans to build upon the past successes of the Institute and further bolster its excellence through exploration of new research directions.
She also said that part of her vision is for the Institute to expand collaborations both at WVU and with other national and international partners.
“I plan to continue the excellent research that the RRI has been known for while also identifying new opportunities,” Stephens said.
“Are there folks at WVU that we could be collaborating with that the Institute hasn't collaborated with in the past? I’m thinking this would be a win-win where we would benefit from their expertise and they would benefit from ours. And, we would be able to address some research questions that are really important, especially those related to the economy of the state and region. While I think there are opportunities within WVU, I will also expand collaborations with folks in other places.
“I’m excited about this opportunity because we get to shape the future direction of the RRI. In addition to new collaborations and research, we can also think about new ways that we can provide learning opportunities.”
Stephens said in the following months she will work to develop a plan for the future of the Institute in consultation with Melanie Page, associate vice president for creative and scholarly activities, WVU Research Office, and Fred King, vice president of research at WVU.
One area where Stephens sees opportunities is in expanding data-driven analysis to support policymaking.
“One of the things I see at both the federal and state levels is this tendency to create one-size-fits-all policies,” she said. “However, these policies don’t work for everyone. For example, we can have policies that work well in urban areas but not so well for anyone else. I’m interested in understanding the differences in how policies impact regions and how we can develop policies that work.”
Stephens is also an associate professor of resource economics and management in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. Her research has focused on examining issues related to regional economic development and the differences in the impact of policies across regions.
Her current and past research has examined questions related to energy, environmental quality, labor markets, entrepreneurship, health and regional growth. Her professional background also includes experience developing public policies at the federal level and leading economic development efforts in U.S. rural regions.
She will build on this experience as she develops her vision and plan for the next chapter of the RRI.
For more information, visit the RRI website.