Dr. Darrin Webb, a senior economist at the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) for nearly 15 years, has been selected as the new State Economist.

He assumes the position immediately from Dr. Phil Pepper, who retired at the end of June.

In his years at IHL, Dr. Webb has worked closely with the Revenue Estimating Group, formulating and presenting the University Research Centers estimate. He also constructed and maintained the states Leading and Coincident Indicator series, tools that are used to forecast economic trends and assess the Mississippi economy.

Dr. Webb, a native Mississippian, is the editor of Mississippis Business, a monthly publication that monitors the states economy.

Dr. Webb takes on this important responsibility at a very difficult time in Mississippis history. The significant experience he already has uniquely prepares him for the challenge, Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Hank Bounds said. I know he will be thorough in his work, allowing our state leaders to make the best decisions possible regarding the state budget and our economy.

The State Economist serves as the chief economist for the State of Mississippi. Responsibilities include economic forecasting, socio-economic policy analysis and monitoring collections of state general fund revenue.

The State Economist traditionally serves as chair of the Revenue Estimating Group, working closely with the Governors Office, Legislative Budget Office, legislators and other state agencies.

Dr. Webb earned an associates degree in applied science from Hinds Community College, and a bachelors in agribusiness and a masters in agricultural economics, both from Mississippi State University. His doctorate of philosophy in applied economics is from Clemson University in Clemson, S.C.

Prior to his work as a senior economist at IHL, Dr. Webb served as an assistant professor of agricultural economics at Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe, La.