“We are extremely pleased that a scholar, administrator, and teacher of Dr. Laband’s stature is joining the college.” said Jacqueline J. Royster, Dean of Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. “The appointment marks a new decade of leadership for the School of Economics, and I am confident that he will continue the outstanding momentum of the school's undergraduate, Master's, and Ph.D. programs." 

David Laband earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He currently serves as Professor and Director of Graduate Programs for the economics department at Auburn University, where he has focused on building the Ph.D. program and is heading the department’s capital campaign. Previously, he chaired the economics department at Salisbury State University, Maryland.

An applied micro-economist, Professor Laband is well-known in the field of economics. His research, widely cited, includes substantial work in several of the school's strategic areas, particularly environmental economics, labor economics, and micro-economic analysis. He is a popular teacher who has been repeatedly recognized for teaching excellence.

The author of five books and editor of four collections, Dr. Laband has had published over one hundred and thirty articles in prestigious journals including the Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Political Economy, Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Labor Economies, and the Journal of Human Resources.

“I am delighted to be joining the faculty of Georgia Tech and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts,” Laband said. “I look forward to working across the university community to enhance the contributions of the School of Economics and help develop an internationally prominent program.”