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Michael Podgursky, Ph.D., to Lead New Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research

Following a national search, Michael Podgursky, Ph.D., has been selected to be the founding director of the new Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research in the Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University.

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Michael Podgursky, Ph.D. University of Missouri photo

The new center, along with support for SLU’s chess team, is part of the transformational $50 million gift from Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield that created the new Saint Louis University Research Institute, which provides critical funding to support researchers whose interests span the University. It was the largest donation in the SLU’s history. 

Podgursky holds the title of the Chancellor’s Professor of Economics in the College of Arts and Science at the University of Missouri. At Mizzou, he served as the chair of the Department of Economics from 1995-2005 and he taught economics in the Honors College. He also taught at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst for 15 years. 

New Role at SLU 

In his role as director of SLU’s applied economic research center, Podgursky will work with a steering committee to help refine the mission of the center and to develop its strategic plan. He’ll also work with the committee to recruit post-docs and/or visiting faculty and will be responsible for working to secure partnerships and research grants for the center. 

In addition to reporting to the dean of the Chaifetz School of Business, Podgursky will work with an executive committee that also includes the dean of the College for Public Health and Social Justice and the dean of the School of Education to further ensure the interdisciplinary nature of the center. 

More About Podgursky 

In addition to receiving more than a dozen research grants, Podgursky has published numerous journal articles and his work has appeared in the Journal of Labor Economics, Statistics and Public Policy and the National Tax Journal, among many others. 

At Mizzou, he earned a number of awards and honors, including a William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence in 2017, a Kemper Teaching Fellowship in 2015 and the College of Arts and Science Purple Chalk Teaching Award in 2013. 

His professional affiliations have included the American Economic Association, the Association for Education Finance and Policy, and the Society of Labor Economists. He also served on the advisory board for the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University. 

Podgursky earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of Missouri, and master of arts and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. 

Search Committee 

SLU conducted a national search for the director position and the search committee overwhelmingly recommended Podgursky. Hailong Qian, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Economics, chaired the search committee. Members included: