M. Duane Nellis, dean of West Virginia Universitys Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, has named three new department chairs in the college. Nellis has appointed F. Carson Mencken as the new chair of sociology and anthropology, Matthew Martin as the new chair in communication studies and Harry Finklea as the new chair in chemistry

Mencken, associate professor of sociology, came to WVU in 1994 as an assistant professor. He earned a B.S. in sociology from the College of Charleston and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. Since coming to WVU , he has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in economic sociology, social research methods and data analysis.

Mencken received the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Research Award in 1999. He has written more than 20 research articles while garnering several grants for research in his areas of expertise, including regional labor markets, rural sociology and social research methods.

“My goal is to provide leadership in order to enhance the divisions overall contributions in the areas of research, teaching and service,”Mencken said.”I look forward to working with the faculty to build on our areas of strength and to take further advantage of our new partnership with the other units in the School of Applied Social Sciences.”

He takes over from Professor Ronald Althouse, who will return to regular faculty status and continue as director of the WVU Survey Research Center.

Before coming to WVU in 1994 as an assistant professor of communication studies, Martin obtained his B.A. in journalism in 1987 from Valparaiso University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in communication studies from Kent State University.

He has published more than 40 research articles in scholarly publications, five book chapters and presented more than 80 papers at professional conferences. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in interpersonal communication, persuasion, communication theory and public relations. His research focuses on communication in relationships, argumentative and aggressive communication, and communication traits.

“Our department will continue to focus on the ever changing needs of our undergraduate students,”Martin said.”Starting this fall, we will begin offering our capstone course, which was one of the major accomplishments of Dr Melanie Booth Butterfields term as chair. We also plan on continuing to serve the state of West Virginia with our extension courses.”

Martin takes over from Booth-Butterfield, who will return to regular faculty status.

Finklea, a professor of chemistry, accepted a position as an assistant professor at WVU in 1986. He earned his B.S. in chemistry from Duke University and his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology.

Finklea has published more than 30 research articles in scholarly journals and edited books. He recently contributed an article in the new 14-volume Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry: Instrumentation and Applications, published by John Wiley&Sons.

“My goals are to constantly improve our teaching, build our research program, and provide service to the chemical profession, the University and the state,”Finklea said.”I am awed by the challenges of the department chairpersons job, yet at the same time I am looking forward to working with faculty, students, staff, administrators and alumni to accomplish these missions.

Finklea replaces Professor Paul Jagodzinski, who has accepted a faculty and department chair position at the Colorado School of Mines.