Patrick Barkey, director of economic policy studies at Ball State University, is looking for a change, and so he is leaving his life in Muncie and heading west for the mountains, hiking trails and rural economy of Missoula, Mont.
Barkey said he finds his position as associate director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana a challenge. His last day at Ball State is March 30, and he will start his new position on April 2.
One of Barkey's responsibilities will put him in charge of the university's health care research program, which looks at the health care industry in Montana, and analyze its role on the state's economy, Paul Polzin, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, said.
"I've done some work [on the health care industry]," Barkey said. "It's certainly going to stretch me a little bit, but I do have a pretty good track record in doing research."
According to his profile, he has been involved in economic forecasting for the past two decades at several institutions and American Electric Power. Some of his research at Ball State has focused on smoking and the Indiana economy, technology in central Indiana and the education of workers in the state. He also writes a column on economic issues that is published in papers across the state and a weekly statistical newsletter used by banks, newspapers and businesses.
Barkey heard about the job through national advertisements and was attracted to it because the position was an opportunity to work at a large center in a part of the country where the economy is different from Muncie, he said.
"[Montana] is obviously a very beautiful area," Barkey said. "I liked the way the center ran and I liked the people that were in charge."
He said Ball State has been a great experience, and he learned a lot while working at the university. He said it is a very entrepreneurial environment and the business leadership in central Indiana is strong. He expects to hear great things about Ball State, he said.
"In terms of the work I've done here, like applying for grants, talking to business officials, I didn't have much experience with that before I came to Ball State," Barkey said.
Barkey said he was not necessarily looking to leave Ball State; however, the position at the University of Montana was too good to refuse. Also, he looks forward to the change as he and his wife are dealing with empty-nest syndrome since their children grew up.
"Jobs come up all the time, different opportunities," he said. "[The University of Montana] is a different environment. The joke I make with people is that I shouldn't have looked at the job in the first place."
Barkey, who has spent almost 14 years at Ball State, was chosen in a nationwide search from 30 to 35 applicants because of his superior performance, background and experience at Ball State, Polzin said.
"We're looking forward to Pat's arrival," Polzin said. "We have projects waiting for him when he gets here."
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