Thomas Keene Email & Phone Number

I am a regional economist with interests in labor, health, and rural development. I have research experience in many different facets of regional economics, ranging from spatial access barriers of new technologies to heterogeneous impacts of welfare programs across the rural/urban/tribal hierarchy. My long-term research interests will continue to focus on regional economic issues, including the spatial reorganization of healthcare due to telehealth parity.I joined the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE) at Michigan State University in August 2019. In 2021, I became a dual major in Economics and AFRE after passing all qualifying exams and course requirements in both departments. I have had the honor to engage in multi-disciplinary research focused on US broadband access issues for rural and tribal businesses. Through that project, I have met with stakeholders, extension specialists, and other researchers to create community-relevant and rigorous economic analysis. I have recently begun work on another project, which focuses on estimating the impact of various SNAP policies. I am determined to continue creating policy-relevant research outputs that help improve the lives of others.