President

Peter Calcagno is a professor of economics at the College of Charleston and he directs the Center for Public Choice & Market Process, an undergraduate free market center. His areas of research are applied microeconomics, public choice, and political economy.

Board Chair

Andrew J. Taylor is a professor of political science at North Carolina State University, where he has taught since 1995 and teaches courses principally in American politics. He was chair of NC State’s Department of Political Science from 2006 to 2010.

Secretary/Treasurer

Brad DeVos is Chief Operating Officer of the Independent Institute. He formerly served as Director of Programs at the American Institute for Economic Research, and had also been the President and CEO of The Bastiat Society, an international non-profit dedicated to increasing economic literacy within the business community.

Board Member

Jody W. Lipford is an Associate Professor of Economics at Francis Marion University in Florence, SC. He received his B.S. Degree from Francis Marion College, and his M.A. and Ph. D. degrees from Clemson University. His research interests span from environmental economics to public finance to sports economics.

Past President

Craig J. Richardson is the Truist Distinguished Professor of Economics at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and founding director of the Center for the Study of Economic Mobility (CSEM) at the university.

Board Member

Timothy Terrell has been on the faculty at Wofford College since 2000, where he is T.B. Stackhouse Professor of Economics. He teaches principles of economics, public finance, regulation, American economic history, and other courses.

Board Member

Robert Whaples is Professor of Economics (and former department chair) at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. He is also a senior fellow at the Independent Institute, a nonprofit think tank located in Oakland, California.

Board Member Emeritus

Jack Sommer is board member emeritus of the Classical Liberals of the Carolinas, a position honoring his long service in science and economics. He is also Knight Distinguished Professor of Public Policy Emeritus at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), specializing in science and technology policy.