(UM News Service) After a national search, the University of Montana has hired Dr. Jeffrey Michael as the next director of the Office of Business and Economic Research.
Michael joins BBER from the University of the Pacific, where he has been the Director of Public Policy at McGeorge School of Law since 2021.
Michael specializes in economics and has decades of experience in regional economic forecasting, previously serving as executive director of the Center for Business and Policy Research and director of the Center for Business Forecasting at the University of the Pacific’s Eberhard School of Business. Served for a year.
“BBER has a tremendous legacy of helping businesses, government and the public understand Montana’s economy,” Michael said. “I am excited to contribute to BBER’s mission and engage with Montana’s business and civic leaders on important and emerging economic issues.”
Patrick Barkey, long-time director of BBER, will remain as research director until June 2025, when he plans to retire.
“We are truly fortunate to have a new leader with the experience and skills of Jeff Michael in Montana State,” Barkey said. “He will be fully committed to bringing his own recognition to everything we do.”
As director of BBER, Michael will lead a team of 20 research experts at the nationally recognized research center. The research center will continue to produce economic and industry data for all of Montana’s geographic regions and will present economic forecasts at annual economic outlook seminars held throughout the state.
