Heather Stephens is currently an Assistant Professor in Resource Economics and Management and a Faculty Research Affiliate at the Regional Research Institute (RRI) at West Virginia University. Her current and past research has examined questions related to entrepreneurship, energy, environmental quality, health, and regional growth, with a focus on the differences in the impact of policies across regions. Her prior work has been published in Environmental and Resource Economics, Growth and Change, Journal of Regional Science, Resource and Energy Economics, and Small Business Economics. She received her Ph.D. and an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University and has a B.A. in Economics and Public Policy Studies from Duke University. Previously, Dr. Stephens was an Assistant Professor of Economics and the Director of Economic Research at California State University, Long Beach. She also has prior experience working for a U.S. Congressman, on strategic partnership development for a Fortune 100 company, as a local economic development director, and on regional economic development at a university-based applied research institute.