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Faculty Research Associates

RRI Faculty Research Associates (FRAs) are members of the West Virginia University research community with special interests in regional research. They benefit from their affiliation in several ways. First, they become part of a vibrant network of like-minded scholars who—by participating in both scholarly and social activities—have enhanced opportunities to explore synergies and build relationships that can lead to long lasting collaborations and friendships. Numerous projects and publications have grown from intellectual seeds sown at RRI sponsored events. Second, RRI FRAs benefit professionally from a formal affiliation with an internationally recognized institution specializing in regional development researchAnd third, they receive notice of RRI sponsored seminars and related events, information request, and news relevant to regional researchers, including notice of external funding opportunities.

To become an FRA, researchers should submit a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to the Director. The candidate’s letter of interest need only include one or two paragraphs describing his/her regional research interests. The description of research interests will be used for the FRA application process itself and for matching the candidate with other researchers and potential projects of interest. The FRA application will be reviewed internally. WVU Faculty and FE/AP researchers are eligible for FRA status.

James T. Anderson, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management

Robert C. BurnsDirector, Division of Forestry and Natural Resources; Professor of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources

Peter Butler, Director of Design and Community Development; Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture; Extension Specialist in Landscape Architecture

K.Victor Chow, Distinguished Professor of Global Business and Finance; Adjunct Professor Economics; Director, Center for Chinese Business

Jamison Conley, Associate Professor of Geography

Jinyang Deng, Program of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources

John Deskins, Director, Bureau of Business and Economic Research; Assistant Dean for Outreach and Engagement; Associate Professor of Economics

Levan Elbakidze, Professor of Resource Economics and Management

Hodjat Ghadimi, Associate Professor of Design & Landscape Architecture

Joshua Hall, Milan Puskar Dean, Professor of Economics and Director for Free Enterprise

Brad P. Humphries, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Research Professor, Economics

Dimitra PyrialakouAssistant Professor, Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Rachael W. WoldoffProfessor of Sociology

Feng Yao, Economics Department Chair

Paul Ziemkiewicz, Director, West Virginia Water Research Institute


Emeritus Faculty Research Associates

Robert E. Blobaum, Eberly Family Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Cheryl Brown, Emeritus Associate Professor of Economics and Management

Brian Cushing, Professor Emeritus of Economics

Stratford M. Douglas, Professor Emeritus of Economics

Gregory Elmes, Emeritus Professor of Geography

Tesfa G. Gebremedhin, Professor Emeritus of Resource Economics and Management

Trevor M. Harris, Emeritus Eberly Distinguished Professor of Geography

Kenneth C. Martis, Emeritus Professor of Geography

Robert M. Maxon, Professor Emeritus of History

Timothy T. Phipps, Professor Emeritus of Resource Economics and Management

Peter V. Schaeffer, Professor Emeritus of Resource Economics and Management

Steven W. Selin, Professor Emeritus of Recreation, Parks & Tourism Resources

Tim Warner, Emeritus Professor of Geography and Geology

Charles Yuill, Associate Professor Emeritus ANRD Design and Community Development