Gatton's Hackbart Serves UK, State in Many Ways

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 29, 2011) - Nearly four decades ago, Merl Hackbart joined the faculty of the University of Kentucky 's Gatton College of Business and Economics with what was then a reasonably well-defined mission: To serve as an associate professor of economics and public administration, and to develop a school of public policy and administration at UK (that would be the now nationally regarded Martin School of Public Policy and Administration). Hackbart proved very successful in meeting these objectives, yet even he could not have predicted where his career would take him over the next 38 years.

Recently named interim dean of the Gatton College, Hackbart is no stranger to serving in leadership roles, both inside and outside the university.

A native of South Dakota, Hackbart earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Kansas State University at about the same time he was completing a two-year stint as a captain in the United States Army in the late 1960s.  Faculty positions at the University of Wyoming and Kansas State were interspersed with service to the state of South Dakota as an economic analyst and deputy secretary of the department of transportation.

Crossing the Mississippi River to come to the Commonwealth and UK in 1973, Hackbart has taken on numerous assignments and challenges, from teaching undergraduate and graduate students, to doing research which has been widely published, to serving three different Kentucky governors, two (John Y. Brown and Wallace Wilkinson) as state budget director, with additional key responsibilities for finance, administration, policy, and management; and one (Paul Patton) as special assistant for policy management, then later as senior policy adviser.

"Serving as the founding director of the Martin School helped me to even more closely align my research interests in public policy and administration and bring these connections clearly in focus to our students," said Hackbart.  "It also piqued my own interest in knowing more about the inner workings of state government."

Together with his vast amount of service to the Commonwealth, Hackbart always has

been devoted to UK and the Gatton College.  Among the many honors and recognitions

he has received are the Provost's Distinguished Service Professor Award, the William

E. Lyons Award for Academic Leadership and Public Service, the Kentucky

Distinguished Economist Award, and the Kentucky Economics Association

Distinguished Service Award. 

In addition to his outstanding classroom teaching and chairing numerous

doctoral dissertation committees, Hackbart has served the Gatton College as associate

dean for graduate studies and research, associate dean for academic affairs and

administration, and senior associate dean.

"Since the 1997 passage of House Bill 1 by the Kentucky General Assembly, and

especially through the period of former President Todd's tenure, UK has taken on

a much bolder attitude and focused approach in aspiring to be a top public research

institution," said Hackbart.  "I believe this upward shift in attitude is a real positive

for the university, and I look forward to seeing our momentum continue under the

leadership of Eli Capilouto."

In fact, Hackbart himself was appointed to serve on Kentucky's Council on Postsecondary Education after House Bill 1 was passed.  "This provided me with an excellent overview of the opportunities and challenges for higher education in the Commonwealth," Hackbart said.

While he may have the word 'interim' in front of his current title as dean, Hackbart

has the Gatton College and its students, faculty, and staff geared up to continue

moving ahead in this academic year.

"Beginning this fall, our college is undergoing the reaccreditation process, something which is extremely important.  This only takes place once a decade and we have been working very hard to get prepared for our evaluation," Hackbart said .  "We are confident that we are ready."

Hackbart, as did his predecessor, D. Sudharshan, is prioritizing advocacy for a new facility to house the Gatton College.  "Right now, we have to limit the number of students we can admit to our programs based on space considerations, particularly at the undergraduate level," Hackbart said.  "And a new building would enable us to greatly expand the technological advances available to students and faculty in our classrooms and laboratories."

When most people meet Merl Hackbart in person for the first time, they think he is in his late 50s, or perhaps about to turn 60.  Instead, he is a brand new member of the septugenarian club.

"Working here at UK puts you in constant touch with young people, people with fresh

attitudes, energy, and  ideas," he said.  "The lively atmosphere here at the university, combined with the tremendous variety of assignments I have been able to have, keeps me excited and always looking to the future."

Hackbart and his wife, Maxine, reside in Lexington and have two children and five grandchildren.