Michael Brady

Michael Brady is an Associate Professor and Extension Economist at the School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University, serving as Director of the Master of Applied Economics (MAE) Program since 2018. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics from Ohio State University (2007), alongside advanced degrees from the London School of Economics and Miami University.

His research focuses on specialty crop production (tree fruits, vineyards, vegetables), water use in irrigated agriculture, and land use dynamics. He leads interdisciplinary projects on coupled human-environmental systems, including NSF-funded studies and the AgAID Institute (AI in agriculture). Notable work includes economic impact analyses of Washington agriculture, farmland ownership trends, and water rights policies.

Brady's MAE program emphasizes STEM certification and applied quantitative skills, offering a 1-year curriculum with tracks for economics and cross-disciplinary students. He has held prior roles as Assistant Professor (2012–2018), Assistant Research Professor at WSU's IMPACT Center (2009–2011), and Research Economist at USDA (2007–2009).

Recent publications address organic farm sustainability, climate change impacts on pest/disease outbreaks, water rights leasing benefits, and irrigation efficiency trade-offs. His work bridges academic research with practical solutions for agricultural challenges.