Department of Economic and Workforce Development

Faculty & Staff

Rick Duke 601.266.5090 rick.duke@usm.edu	Joel R. "Rick" Duke is Director of the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. In addition, he is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Economic & Workforce Development. Rick joined The University of Southern Mississippi in July 2010 after a twenty five year career with The Georgia Institute of Technology where he was a Principal Research Associate and Director of the Economic Development Institute. Rick also spent 10 years in the private sector with Kraft Foods, Inc. in roles like plant management and industrial engineering. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech, Masters in Business Administration from Florida Southern College, Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP), graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. Rick has been in numerous leadership roles including President of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, International Economic Development Council's Board of Directors and President of the Rotary Club of South Hall County Georgia.
Brent D. Hales, Ph.D. 601.266.6519 brent.hales@usm.edu CV [PDF]	Brent D. Hales, Ph.D., serves as Interim Chair of the Department of Economic and Workforce Development and as Associate Professor of Economic Development and Workforce Development at The University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Hales previously served as Director of the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurship Education, coordinator of the Masters of Science in Economic Development Program at Southern Miss, as Director of the Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Research, and of the Center for Community and Economic at Delta State University. Dr. Hales is also the President of the Community Development Society. His primary area of research since 1996 has been the examination, promotion, and community adoption innovation-based community and economic development and entrepreneurship. Dr. Hales has developed questionnaires, conducted needs assessments, held conferences and workshops, and worked with service and application providers, community leaders, and businesses to meet the needs of the communities at their levels. Dr. Hales is the founder the Southern Entrepreneurship Program. This program teaches entrepreneurship skills to high school students, community college students, and displaced workers throughout the Mid South region. He received a B.S. from Brigham Young University, an M.A. from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University. Dr. Hales has been married to his wife Candy for 19 years and is the father of 6 children.
Chad Miller, Ph.D. 601.266.6666 chad.r.miller@usm.edu CV [PDF]	Chad R. Miller, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Department of Economic and Workforce Development and is Assistant Director for Trade of the USM Center for Logistics, Trade, and Transportation. Prior to joining academia he worked in the private sector in Asia and was an Army Officer stationed in the Pacific Rim. He worked for the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development before joining the faculty at USM. His main research interests are freight-based economic development and economic development policy. Chad has a Ph.D. from the Virginia Tech Center for Public Administration & Policy, a MBA from Boston University, and a BA from the College of William & Mary.
Brian Richard, Ph.D. 601.266.6067 brian.richard@usm.edu CV [PDF]	Brian Richard, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economic and Workforce Development at The University of Southern Mississippi. Brian has extensive experience in economic, fiscal and policy research. At Southern Miss, his work concentrates on the casino tourism industry, the impacts of economic development projects, local retail and industrial analysis, and research into the state of the southern Mississippi economy. Brian is currently heading up a team of researchers from Mississippi’s four research universities that is quantifying the economic impacts of the Gulf Oil Spill. Previously, Dr. Richard taught introductory Economics at Millsaps College. He has a finance degree from the University of Washington and a Masters degree in economics from Clemson University. He received his PhD in International Development at Southern Miss.
Sherry Parker 601.266.6067 sherry.parker@usm.edu	Sherry Parker serves as the Budget and Curriculum Coordinator for the Department of Economic and Workforce Development. She also helps as coordinator for student advisement and academic programming. Sherry holds both an undergraduate degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Social and Rehabilitation Services and a Master of Science in Economic Development from The University of Southern Mississippi. Sherry worked for South Mississippi State Hospital as a Mental Health Specialist for two (2) years. Prior to receiving her degree, she was the Scholarship Coordinator and Reservation Specialist for The College of The Arts at Southern Miss for 10 years.
James Wilcox 601.266.6055 james.b.wilcox@usm.edu	James Wilcox holds both an undergraduate degree in International Business and a Master of Science in Economic Development from The University of Southern Mississippi. He was selected in January 2011 as the Director of the Southern Miss Center for Economic and Entrepreneurship Education (CEEE), housed within the university's Department of Economic and Workforce Development. CEEE is an affiliate of the Mississippi Council on Economic Education as well as the national Council on Economic Education; and as Center Director, Wilcox serves as an instructor for primary and secondary teachers through the Master Teacher in Economics program, Financial Fitness for Life trainings, and the Southern Entrepreneurship Program. Through its partnership with the Department of Economic and Entrepreneurship Education, CEEE also offers teacher training through the Master Teacher in Entrepreneurship program and strives to offer entrepreneurship research relevant to both educators and economic developers.