Aaron Yelowitz to become director of the Institute for the Study of Free Enterprise
July 5, 2017
Dear Colleagues:
I write to announce that I have named Aaron Yelowitz from the Department of Economics to be Director of the UK Institute for the Study of Free Enterprise, subject to approval from the Provost and the Board of Trustees. Since the inception of the Institute, Aaron has ably served as Associate Director. His new role is effective July 1, 2017. In selecting Aaron for this important role, I consulted with a committee consisting of current Institute affiliates, sitting center directors, the Chair of the Department of Economics, and the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Outreach. This committee was very supportive of the appointment. Aaron shares my vision and that of John Garen, founding Director of the Institute, that the Institute become preeminent among similar institutes and centers nationwide. We want the Institute to address broad social, policy, and economic issues in a framework of rigorous positive economics through the lens of market-based approaches. We expect the research supported by the Institute to appear in the leading peer-reviewed journals of the relevant disciplines or sub-disciplines, building on the strength of a long-standing, rigorous research culture in the Gatton College. This approach to the study of free enterprise will lead to great impact and visibility. Please join me in congratulating Aaron and in supporting him as he approaches this important leadership role.
I also take this opportunity to sincerely thank John Garen, who stepped down from the role of Director effective June 30. John will continue as a highly involved and supportive affiliate of the Institute. He will also continue to administer the BB&T Program for the Study of Capitalism and will collaborate in that role with the Institute. The founding of the Institute has been a vision of John’s for well over 10 years. His ceaseless work on various initiatives to promote rigorous study of capitalism and free enterprise led to establishment of the Institute. His work leaves quite an impressive legacy that will benefit the entire Gatton College for generations to come. Please join me in applauding John for these stellar accomplishments and for his continuing support of these initiatives.
Regards,
Dave
David W. Blackwell
Dean and Professor of Finance
Gatton College of Business and Economics
University of Kentucky