Dr. Michael Davis, associate professor of economics, has been named interim chair of economics. His appointment will begin Sunday, Sept. 1.

Davis will replace Dr. Greg Gelles, who served as chair of economics since 1998. Gelles is retiring after 30 years of service to S&T. He joined S&T as an assistant professor in 1989, was named associate professor in 1995, and professor in 2001. Gelles has been involved in numerous aspects of international education on behalf of S&T and has been an active researcher in the areas of microeconomic theory, cost-benefit analysis, health economics and the law, decision and financial theory under risk, and mathematical economics.

Davis joined Missouri S&T as a lecturer in 2001, was named assistant professor of economics in 2002, and associate professor in 2008. Among his research interests that have resulted in peer-reviewed publications are the economic impact of successful NFL franchises, the dynamics of wholesale and retail gasoline prices, and the economic factors affecting the location of major and minor league baseball teams.

Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the College of William and Mary in 1995, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from the University of California, San Diego, in 1999 and 2001, respectively.

At S&T, he has taught courses in principles of macroeconomics, principles of microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, sports economics, money and banking, public finance, international finance, and economic statistics.