The E Foundation for Oklahoma today announced that Dr. Russell Evans, executive director of the Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute, director of the Center for Regional Economic Forecasting and Policy Analysis, and associate professor of economics at Oklahoma City University, has been named as a distinguished fellow.
Evans will serve as the economic advisor to the executive team and board of directors of the E Foundation, convene and lead an economic roundtable discussion with other fiscal policy subject matter experts, and produce a market-oriented budget for the State of Oklahoma that aligns strategic interests with sound economic underpinnings.
“Dr. Evans brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for solving root causes; likewise, his character is something we are excited to have on our team," said Michael Carnuccio, president and CEO of the E Foundation. "The capacity for Oklahoma to be economically vigorous has not gone away, and Dr. Evans sees that clearly. We believe Oklahoma's best days are within reach, and welcome Dr. Evans' leadership to bring that potential into a focused reality."
The E Foundation was established to create a plan of action to organize and prioritize policies, resources and talent in order to promote growth in the economy and improve the quality of life for Oklahomans.
"I am excited to join the E Foundation team and look forward to contributing to the important conversation the E Foundation is leading as we look forward to the long-run economic and fiscal performance of the state," Evans said. "Being invited to join other thought leaders in envisioning what Oklahoma could be for future generations is a challenge too good to say no to."
Evans holds his undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics from Oklahoma State University, and works regularly with civic leaders to better understand fiscal impact, regional economic forecasting, and local tax incidence. He routinely presents to audiences such as the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Luncheon, Leadership Oklahoma City, Leadership Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City Council, the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Downtown Rotary. The work of Evans and his colleagues has appeared in The Economist, Kiplinger’s, The Wall Street Journal, The Oklahoman and Tulsa World.
Evans is a member of the American Economic Association, the National Association for Business Economics, and the Missouri Valley Economic Association.