L. Christopher Plein, an associate professor of public administration at West Virginia University, has been appointed chair of the Eberly College’s Division of Public Administration.

Dr. Plein replaces David Williams who is stepping down as division head after 23 years. Dr. Williams will continue as assistant dean for the School of Applied Social Sciences in the Eberly College.

“Chris will do an excellent job as chair of this important division that serves the state and nation in many important ways,”remarked M. Duane Nellis, dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

Plein was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in northern Virginia. He earned a doctorate in political science from the University of MissouriColumbia, a master of arts in political science from East Tennessee State University and a bachelor of arts from Emory&Henry College.

Since arriving at WVU in 1992, Plein has pursued various teaching, research and service interests. Much of his focus has been on the study of social policy and the many reforms that have occurred in publicly funded health insurance programs and welfare programs in recent years.

Working closely with a team of WVU -based researchers, Plein has been involved in projects that have shed light on the status of current and former welfare recipients in West Virginia. This research has also explored state administrative and policy arrangements associated with welfare services. His work on the subject has also been part of national efforts to understand the effects of social policy reform. Working with colleagues at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany, N.Y., Plein has conducted research on state policies and administrative practices involving Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, food stamps and welfare.

Plein has also been involved in research and service projects relating to community development in West Virginia’s rural areas. He is one of the founders of the West Virginia Community Design Team. This program organizes visits by teams of faculty and students to small communities in the state in order to assist in community and economic development, revitalization and historic preservation. In 2003, Plein was awarded the Eberly College of Arts&Sciences Outstanding Public Service Award.

As the new chair of public administration, Plein will seek to build on the already strong and vibrant base of the division. Because of effective past leadership and faculty dedication, the Division of Public Administration is a highly regarded Master of Public Administration program in the state and nation, he noted. The division has a solid reputation for preparing students for careers in the public service, and its faculty members are highly regarded for the contributions that they make through research and service, he said.