Directors

Michael ‘Mo’ O’Donnell is the Director of The University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Dr. O’Donnell received a JD and a Masters in Agricultural and Resource Economics, both from the University of Arizona, and, a PhD in Economics from the University of New Mexico. He is a member of the Arizona State Bar. For over a decade, Dr. O’Donnell has been responsible for managing BBER’s quarterly...

Jeff Mitchel worked at BBER from 2003 to 2021. He served as BBER’s Director from 2014 to 2020. As Director, he oversees BBER’s research activities and information services, advises public and private organizations and works closely with the media. The focus of Jeff’s research is community and regional economic development in New Mexico, with emphasis on the creative economy, community revitalization, housing, inte...

Lee is a Research Professor of Economics at The University of New Mexico and the former Director of the UNM Bureau of Business and Economic Research. She has been a close observer of the New Mexico economy for more than 30 years and was an active participant in the process for developing BBER’s consensus forecasts using the FOR-UNM model. While retired, Lee continues to be involved in the research efforts of BBER,...

Brian McDonald is an economist who served as the director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at the University of New Mexico (UNM) from 1982 to 2000. Brian Earned his B.A. in economics from Georgetown University and went on to earn his Ph.D. in economics from The University of Pennsylvania During his tenure as director, McDonald oversaw research on the economic conditions of New Mexico, includi...

Lee Brown is an economist who earned his Ph.D. from Purdue University. Dr. Brown served as the director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at the University of New Mexico (UNM) from 1977 to 1981. In 1977, Brown was appointed as the director of the BBER, where he oversaw research on the economic conditions of New Mexico, including analyzing the state's energy sector, labor market, and income dis...

Lee B. Zink was an economist and former director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Lee was born in Salem, Indiana and attended Indiana University, where he received his B.S. and Oklahoma State University where he received his Ph.D. He served in the US Army and the Army Reserve, achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel. White completing his doctorate, he became t...

Arthur Blumenfeld was an economist and former director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of New Mexico. In 1963, Blumenfeld was appointed as the director of the BBER at UNM, a position he held until 1968. As the director of the BBER, Blumenfeld continued the bureau's tradition of providing valuable insights into the economic conditions of New Mexico. He conducted research on topics...

Ralph L. Edgel was the founder and director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (known as the Bureau of Business Research at the time) at the University of New Mexico (UNM) from 1945 to 1963. Ralph L. Edgel outlined the major goals and objectives for BBER upon its creation. Some of the most notable goals included the collection and assembly of data and information, as well as preparation of measures of...