Visiting Committee
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About WVU Extension's Visiting Committee
Members of the WVU Extension Visiting committee serve in an advisory capacity to WVU Extension. In this capacity, members contribute their time, diverse talents and treasures to help WVU Extension meet its vision and mission.
Jonathan Adler
Executive Director
West Virginia Association of Counties
Jonathan Adler joined the West Virginia Association of Counties as executive director in 2017.
He began his professional career as a newspaper reporter and photographer at his hometown newspaper, the Weston Democrat. His career in public service started 1991, when he served as an aide to Governor Gaston Caperton, traveling West Virginia and promoting the Governor's policies, doing outreach work with public officials and citizens. Adler also briefly served in the Office of Treasurer John Perdue as an assistant, performing many of those same duties.
From 2001 until 2008, Adler served as the state government relations manager for Columbia Gas Transmission, followed by a brief stint in a similar role for CONSOL Energy. For three years he worked in fundraising and development as assistant vice president for advancement for West Virginia State University.
Before joining the WVACO, Adler served as executive director for the West Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science (1989) and an Executive MBA (2001), both from West Virginia University. A native of Weston, West Virginia, he and his family currently reside in Charleston.
Jon Bourdon
State Conservationist
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Jon grew up in Lee, Massachusetts, and graduated from Morehead State University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and agricultural business. He began his career with the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in 1988 as a soil conservationist in eastern Kentucky, after which he held the same position in Connecticut.
In July 1992 he was selected to become the district conservationist in Marietta, Ohio. Jon served as acting assistant state conservationist for field operations and area resource conservationist in Ohio Area III in 2017. He was selected to serve as as ASTC-FO for Ohio Area III in 2018. Jon served as Ohio’s acting State Conservationist (STC) for four months in 2020 and was selected as the STC for West Virginia the same year.
Jon resides in Morgantown with his wife Crysta and their six children. In his spare time Jon enjoys comedy, live music, vacations, the New England Patriot, and the Boston Celtics.
Dr. Patrice Harris
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
eMed
Dr. Patrice A. Harris is board-certified in psychiatry and has diverse experience
as a private practicing physician, public health director and patient advocate.
In 2018, Dr. Harris was elected as the 174th President of the American Medical
Association, the first African-American woman to ever hold the position.
Dr. Harris’ life is marked by her passion to improve the lives of children and communities around her, especially communities of color. She is a recognized expert in children’s mental health and childhood trauma, and integrating public health, behavioral health and primary care services.
She has received numerous awards in recognition of her service and leadership.
Upon completion of her term as President of the AMA, Dr. Harris has continued in private practice. She regularly consults with public and private organizations on health service delivery and emerging trends in health policy. She is a Visiting Professor at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Psychiatry, an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine and an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Morehouse School of
Dr. Harris received her bachelor’s, master’s and medical degrees from West Virginia University. She performed her residency and fellowships at Emory University School of Medicine.
Shawn Morgan, Esq.
Managing Member (Bridgeport office)
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC.
Bio coming soon.
Robert "Bob" Pirner
Lecturer
WVU Native American Studies
Bob Pirner, a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam Era, spent 33 years in West Virginia working to help people with disabilities find independence.
He served as development officer at SteppingStones and led the organization from a rented room in Westover to a $1 million facility at Mylan Park. In 2009, after recovering from cancer, he joined PACE Enterprises as director of development where he helped double the size of the organization.
Mr. Pirner is founder of Operation Welcome Home and Miracle League Baseball, two area nonprofits. He served as the co-founder and former executive director of the West Virginia Association for Disability Employment. He is a leader in the Mountaineer Chapter of Business Networks International and was part of the group’s recognition as one of the top 5% of 10,000 international affiliates. Now semi-retired, he serves as Senior Advisor to PACE Enterprises.
Originally from the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota, Mr. Pirner is one of 5,000 living fluent speakers of the Lakota Sioux language. Growing up in an isolated community that held on to traditional values, he learned a way of life that honors generosity and courage. He shares that gift by teaching in the Native American Studies Department of WVU. Mr. Pirner is a frequent visitor to area schools to share Lakota culture with youth.
Mr. Pirner has co-written/published two books about nonprofit leadership, including Walking in Balance and Leading with Balance. Using lessons from that book, he has been a presenter at state and national conferences sharing his expertise with other nonprofit leaders.
In recognition of his work, Mr. Pirner was recognized with the 2021 Morgantown Human Rights Award. He also is a recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service.
Chelsea Ruby
Secretary
West Virginia Department of Tourism
Chelsea Ruby was appointed Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism by Governor Jim Justice in March 2021. Prior to this appointment, Ruby served as tourism commissioner for four years.
As Secretary, Ruby leads efforts to unify and promote the state’s Almost Heaven brand, advance tourism development and promote the Mountain State to a broader audience, featuring West Virginia as a year-round travel destination to both national and international travelers.
Previously, Ruby served as director of marketing and communications for the West Virginia Department of Commerce. She also was a member of then-Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s communications staff and served as executive director of West Virginia’s acclaimed 150th birthday celebration.
In 2021, Ruby was named a Young Gun by West Virginia Executive Magazine. She was named Young Practitioner of the Year by the West Virginia Public Relations Society of America in 2014, as well as being recognized as one of West Virginia’s 40 top young professionals by Generation Next in 2015.
Secretary Ruby currently serves on the board of directors for Travel South USA, the official regional destination marketing organization for the southern United States. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and lives in Charleston, West Virginia, with her husband Steve, and their children.
Robert Shafer
Mayor of Summersville, WV
WV Municipal League
Robert Shafer has been serving as the Mayor of the City of Summersville since 2007. He also is the owner-operator of Shafer Insurance Associates, a business he has been running successfully since 1992. Prior to his career as an entrepreneur, Mayor Shafer served in the United States Marines for 10 years.
Mayor Shafer is an active member of the Summersville community and serves on several boards, including the Nicholas County Community Foundation Board, where he contributes his time and expertise to help improve the local community. He also serves as chair of the Summersville Arena & Conference Center Advisory Board, where he helps to oversee and manage the operations of this important community venue. Additionally, Mayor Shafer is a member of the New River Gorge Development Authority Board and the West Virginia Municipal League Board of Directors.
Mayor Shafer's dedication to community service extends beyond his board positions. He is a member of the Summersville Rotary. Through his various roles and affiliations, Mayor Shafer has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving the people of Summersville and improving the quality of life in the region.
Dr. Ami Smith
Interim Vice President for Research & Public Service
West Virginia State University
Ami M. Smith serves as vice president and dean and director of Agricultural Research
and Extension at West Virginia State University. She has more than a decade of
experience in 1890 Land-Grant Research and Extension Administration including serving
as director of the Center for the Advancement of STEM, associate VP for Public
Service/director of Extension, and interim associate VP for Research/associate
dean for Research at West Virginia State University. Dr. Smith most recently
served as the interim VP for Research and Public Service at West Virginia State
University prior to transitioning into her current role.
Dr. Smith earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from West Virginia State University
and a doctorate in biosciences from the University of Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom.
As a trained microbial ecologist, Dr. Smith spent her early career in agricultural
research studying thermophilic bacteria associated with anaerobic digesters degrading
poultry farm waste. She is a Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development
Inventory and uses this tool to help Land-Grant professionals. Dr. Smith serves
as vice chair of the West Virginia State University Research and Development Corporation
Board of Directors and was recently elevated to co-chair of the ESCOP Agriculture
Infrastructure Committee. Additionally, she has served as the chair of the Oral
and Poster Presentations subcommittee for the ARD biennial symposium since 2017.
Joe Statler
Delegate, Monongalia County
West Virginia House of Delegates
A lifetime resident of Core, West Virginia, Joe Statler is a retired coal miner with Consolidated Coal Company. Currently, he tends to his family’s 256-acre farm in western Monongalia County, and volunteers on various boards and other community projects.
Re-elected to the West Virginia legislature multiple times, Delegate Statler has sponsored numerous pieces of legislation that have passed, including the LOCAL act, with the goal of improving roads across the state.
He has championed education in Charleston, including serving as vice chair of the House Education Committee. Statler was instrumental in creating and chairing the first House Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services.
Statler was elected to the Monongalia Board of Education in 2002 and served as vice president from 2008 to 2012. He has served on the METC Advisory Board since 1992. He also led efforts as co-chair of the Clay-Battelle Athletic Facilities Board.
As a farmer who believes in the power of education, Statler is a strong supporter of agricultural education and leadership development opportunities for students, especially 4-H and FFA members. Statler also serves as a County Extension Service Committee member for the WVU Extension Monongalia County office.