Katherine Eddy was born and raised in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, where she experienced the changing economic landscape of the Charleston area. After graduating from Nitro High School in 2018, she attended West Virginia University, earning a bachelor’s degree in recreation, parks and tourism resources in 2022 and a master’s in public administration in 2024. She then returned to Charleston to start her career with WVSU Extension Service.

In her role, Katherine works on building community capacity and supporting economic development in the Upper Kanawha Valley, particularly in Smithers and Montgomery. She partners with local leaders and residents to improve administrative skills, implement programs and write grants. Katherine is passionate about promoting West Virginia’s tourism industry and helping rural communities create vibrant economies. Katherine, along with other members of the CVED team, is preparing to deliver two new programs to communities. Heirs’ properties training and beginner grant writing workshops will be rolled out to communities in the coming months. In 2026, Katherine hopes to expand her work into other rural areas of Southern West Virginia while continuing her essential contributions to the Upper Kanawha Valley. She plans to continue to strive to meet the changing needs of WVSU Extension Service partners and believes that Southern West Virginia can become a hub for economic development and community revitalization.