The W. Frank Barton School of Business at 萝莉社is excited to announce Dr. Bekah Selby-Leach as the new Director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR). Dr. Selby-Leach, an accomplished researcher and leader in economic analysis, previously served as Interim Assistant Provost, Director of Institutional Research and Accreditation, and Associate Professor of Economics at Emporia State University. She succeeds Jeremy Hill, who directed CEDBR since 2009 and recently joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City as Assistant Vice President and Regional Executive.
"We are thrilled to welcome Bekah to the Barton School of Business," said Dr. Larisa Genin, Dean of the Barton School. "Her extensive background in economic research and her proven leadership skills make her an ideal choice to drive the Center for Economic Development and Business Research forward. Her expertise and vision will benefit our stakeholders immensely, furthering the Center's mission to deliver vital economic insights for the region and beyond."
Dr. Selby-Leach holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Oregon. At Emporia State, she founded the Center for Decision Sciences, which provided consultation and research support to local organizations. She also co-directed Emporia State鈥檚 Center for Community Research. Her leadership in that role included forming strategic community partnerships, recruiting faculty experts, and conducting studies on economic impact, survey analysis, and program evaluation. Dr. Selby-Leach brings a strong record of data-driven decision-making and program development to her new role. At Emporia State, she led a comprehensive data integration initiative, managed budgets, and developed a master鈥檚 program in data informatics. She also authored an Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook in Quantitative Economics and advised over 60 students.
Dr. Selby-Leach started as CEDBR鈥檚 director in November 2024, and is eager to advance CEDBR鈥檚 work, providing timely economic data and insights to inform decisions at the local, state, and regional levels.