Joseph L. Barker

Board Member

Joe Barker has over 20 years experience in the field of community and economic development, with a specific focus on community-based development work.

He has served as the Director of the Office of Epidemiology and Health Promotion in the WV Bureau for Public Health since September, 2003. In the past Joe served as the Executive Director of the WV Rural Development Council, a project consultant for the WV Rural Research & Policy Institute, the Director of the Local Development Division for the WV Development Office, and the Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. Prior to joining the Development Office, Joe worked for the Energy Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and served as the vice-president for a computer software design and consulting firm in the Boston area.

He is currently the chair of the Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition and serves on the board of directors of the WV Community Development Hub, the Alliance for Sustainable Families and the West Virginia Center for Civic Life.

Joe received his BA in Political Science from West Virginia University and a Masters of Science in Management and Public Administration from the West Virginia Graduate College. He has also worked as a trainer, presenter and/or consultant for a number of public and private organizations and has worked on several international volunteer technical assistance and training assignments in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary.