12/15/2008
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Ethics Commission today announced that Theresa M. Kirk has been selected as its new Executive Director, effective February 1, 2009.
An honors graduate from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, Kirk received her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School Of Law. She has been a practicing member of the West Virginia State Bar since 1994.
Kirk began her legal career at the West Virginia Division of Highways. She later was employed as an associate, then partner, of the law firm of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe, where her practice included representing both private clients and public entities. Her government experience includes serving as Legal Counsel to the West Virginia House of Delegates' Banking and Insurance Committee. She joined the Ethics Commission as its Legal Counsel in 2004.
In 2007, she served a one-year term on the Steering Committee of the Council of Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL), a national organization of government ethics administrators. Recently, she has been reappointed to serve a new three-year term.
In 2009, the Ethics Act will celebrate its 20-year anniversary, with Kirk being only the third Executive Director to lead this organization. "Although the Ethics Commission has achieved much success over the years, there is much more to be done. I shall strive to be fair to the public. I will not be complacent," Kirk said. She stated that her goals and objectives will include examining how the Commission may operate more effectively to fulfill its functions, such as more education for public officials and broader enforcement powers to further build upon and implement the 2005 changes to the West Virginia Governmental Ethics Act.
Contact Information
Lucy Suchy
304-558-0664