Dr. Michael Hicks received his bachelor's degree in economics from the Virginia Military Institute in 1984. He received his master's degree in 1997 and his doctoral degree in 1998, both in economics, from the University of Tennessee. Before joining the Center for Business and Economic Research in 1999, Dr. Hicks was a visiting research assistant professor at the University of Tennessee where he received the College of Business Graduate Teaching Award in 1998.

In the years prior to graduate school Dr. Hicks served as an United States Army Infantry Officer for eight years. He served in the 7th and 26th Infantry Regiments and in the 24th Infantry Division. While serving in the U.S. Army, then Captain Hicks was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, two Commendation Medals and the South West Asia Service Medal with two battle stars. He is a graduate of a number of military courses including parachute, nuclear biological and chemical defence, and Command and General Staff Officer's Course. He currently serves as a Reserve Major at the Army's Operation Center in the Pentagon.

Dr. Hicks has researched a number of issues in industrial organization, environmental, public finance and regional economics. His research work has appeared in a number of academic and policy publications. His wide range of interest is reflected in the variety of his publications, which include refereed journal publications in History, Management, Social Science, Medical, Economics and a forthcoming Law article. He is on the editorial board of two scholarly journals.

Dr. Hicks has provided testimony to the U.S. Senate, the West Virginia Legislature and provided expert testimony in a "top 50" Tort case nationally. In 2002, Dr. Hicks, along with Mark Burton, was named as one of Marshall University's Distinguished Artists and Scholars. He was recently named by Governor Wise to the Special Reclamation Fund Council and was confirmed by the West Virginia Senate in 2003.

Besides being an economist, Dr. Hicks is a full-time husband and father. He and his wife Janet enjoy playing with their daughter, Morgan Grace (4), and their sons Nathan Michael (3) and John Thomas (.01). They are members of the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church.