TOM S. WITT

Professor of Economics
Director, Bureau of Business and Economic Research

Education:

Ph.D. Economics, Washington University (St.Louis), 1974
A.M. Economics, Washington University (St.Louis), 1968
B.A. Economics, Oklahoma State University, 1966

Current Positions:

Director, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, College of Business and Economics
Professor of Economics, College of Business and Economics

Selected Previous Positions:

Interim Director, Entrepreneurship Center, 2000-2001
Associate Dean for Research and Outreach, West Virginia University, 1994-2006
Acting Associate Dean, College of Business and Economics, West Virginia University, 1985 1986
Acting Director, Bureau of Business Research, West Virginia University, 1985
Associate Professor of Economics, West Virginia University, 1975 80
Acting Assistant Dean, Graduate School, West Virginia University, 1977 78
Assistant Professor of Economics, West Virginia University, 1970 75

Research Interests:

Regional economics, labor economics, public finance, energy and public utility economics, and industries studies

Selected Grants and Contracts, greater that $10,000:

Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company, “Contract for Economic Impact Studies”, (project director and co-principal investigator), $19,000 (Tasks 1-3), 2006

West Virginia Division of Tourism, “Tourism and the West Virginia Economy”, (project director), $12,000, 2006.

West Virginia Legislature, “The Future of the West Virginia State Road Fund”, (project director), $12,500, 2006.

West Virginia Legislature, “An Analysis of the West Virginia School Aid Funding Formula”, (project director and co-principal investigator), $75,000, 2005. Renewed in 2006 and 2007.

U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, "Economic Impact of Forensic Organizations", (co-principal investigator), $608,496 (2 year study), 2005.

USDA Forest Service, Monongahela National Forest, "Economic Impact of the Monongahela National Forest", (co-principal investigator), $17,687, 2004.

West Virginia Division of Tourism, "Tourism and the West Virginia Economy", (project director and principal investigator), $10,000, 2004.

West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities, Inc., "Economic Impact of West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities", (project director and principal investigator), $24,600, 2004.

West Virginia Hospital Association, "The Economic Impact of Medicaid on the West Virginia Economy", (project director and principal investigator), $15,000, 2003.

West Virginia Department of Transportation, "West Virginia's Highways: Financing Options for Future Progress,"; $131,068 (project director), 2002.

Joint Commission on Government and Finance, West Virginia Legislature, "Mountaintop Mining/Valley Fill Technical Studies," $185,000 (project director), 1999.

Governor's Office, State of West Virginia, "The Economic Future of West Virginia Under Different Environmental Policies," $40,000 (project director and principal investigator), 1998.

MarketVision Research Inc., "Economic Impact of Ohio Travel and Tourism: 1998," $38,229 (project director and principal investigator), 1998.

West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, "Economic Impact of WVHTCF Members and Federally Supported Facilities," $30,608 (project director), 1997.

West Virginia Division of Forestry, "Economic Impact of the West Virginia Wood Products Industry-1995," $84,000, (co-principal investigator), 1996.

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, "Building Capacity at West Virginia University to Stimulate Entrepreneurial Enterprise," $78,000, (project director), 1995.

West Virginia High Tech Consortium, "North Central West Virginia High Tech Economic Impact Study," $145,159, (co-principal investigator), 1993.

West Virginia Division of Forestry, "Economic Impact of the West Virginia Forest Products Industry," $75,000, (principal investigator), 1992.

West Virginia Development Office, "West Virginia Target Industry Study," $76,941, (principal investigator), 1992.

West Virginia Public Energy Authority, "West Virginia Electricity: An Assessment of Constraints and Demands," $75,263, (consultant panel member), 1992.

All told, Dr. Witt has been a project director and/or a principal investigator on over $3 million in grants and contracts at West Virginia University

Selected Recent Publications and Papers, 1995-Present:

Tom S. Witt and J. Sebastian Leguizamon, Tourism and the West Virginia Economy, West Virginia Division of Tourism, 2007.

Tom S. Witt, George Hammond, Randy Childs, and J. Sebastian Leguizamon, Marion County: Economic Past, Present and Future, Metro Government Charter Review Committee, 2006.

Tom S. Witt, Mehmet S. Tosun, and Patrick C. Mann, Future of West Virginia’s Highway System: A Comparative Analysis of the West Virginia State Road Fund and Policy Options, West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways, 2004.

Tom S. Witt and Mark Fletcher, Tourism and the West Virginia Economy, West Virginia Division of Tourism, 2005.

Tom S. Witt and Christiadi, Economic Impact of West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities in FY2005, 2005. Includes statewide and individual institutional reports.

Tom S. Witt and Christiadi, Economic Impact of Medicaid Federal-Match on the West Virginia Economy FY2002, West Virginia Hospital Association, 2003.

Tom S. Witt and Christiadi, The Economic Impact of the Arts in Monongalia County in 2001, Arts Monongalia, 2002.

Witt, Tom S. and Randall. Childs, An Analysis of the Increased Economic Contributions of The Greenbrier 1999, The Greenbrier Resort Management Company.

Witt, Tom S. and Randall Childs, Economic Impact of The Greenbrier 1998, The Greenbrier Resort Management Company, 1999.

Professional Memberships

American Economic Association

Regional Science Association

National Association for Business Economics

Selected Scholarly Service and Honors:

President, Association for University Business and Economics Research, 2000-2001

Beta Gamma Sigma (WVU) Exceptional Service Award 1993

Beta Gamma Sigma (WVU) Exceptional Service Award 1990

AUBER Representative, Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics, 1989-present

Member, Committee on Energy Statistics, American Statistical Association, 1985-1990

Department of Economics Outstanding Teacher, 1989

Beta Gamma Sigma, Elected to Membership, 1984 (WVU)

West Virginia University Outstanding Teacher Award, 1977 and 1981