John Mukum Mbaku is the Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics and John S. Hinckley Fellow at Weber State University's Wattis School of Business. He also serves as a nonresident senior fellow at The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. His distinguished career spans academia, law, and policy advisory roles focused on African development and governance issues. Dr. Mbaku's educational background is exceptionally diverse, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to scholarship: PhD in Economics, University of Georgia (1985) JD and Graduate Certificate in Natural Resources and Environmental Law, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah (2010) International MBA, University of South Carolina (1979) BA in French Language and Literature, Weber State University (2018) BS in Chemistry, Berry College (1977) His research spans public choice theory, constitutional political economy, sustainable development, law and development, international human rights, intellectual property, and rights of marginalized groups. His scholarly focus consistently centers on institutional reforms in Africa, with particular attention to governance structures, democratic transitions, and the rule of law. Dr. Mbaku's work bridges economics, law, and political science to address Africa's development challenges through a constitutional political economy lens. His recent publications show a clear trajectory toward increasingly policy-relevant scholarship addressing contemporary African governance challenges. The 2025 publication 'Strengthening the rule of law in Africa by 2030' demonstrates his forward-looking approach to institutional development, while his 2024 work on elections reflects ongoing concerns about democratic consolidation. His scholarship consistently addresses the intersection of constitutional design, political economy, and practical governance challenges across the African continent. Dr. Mbaku's scholarly achievements have been recognized through numerous awards: John S. Hinckley faculty award for excellence in exemplary teaching, outstanding scholarship, and extraordinary service Willard L. Eccles research fellowship (held since 1994) CALI Excellence awards in Environmental and International Law First Prize Winner of the Nathan Burkan Memorial Competition in Copyright Law 2009 Stephen Pierre Traynor Outstanding Legal Writing Award As an active scholar and policy advisor, Dr. Mbaku has consulted with numerous international organizations including the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, African Economic Research Consortium, and the UN Economic Commission for Africa. He has served as associate editor (Africa) of the Journal of Third World Studies (1986-2007) and as managing editor of the Journal of Land, Resources & Environmental Law. His engagement extends beyond academia as he works with community groups to explain globalization, outsourcing, and immigration issues, and visits local schools to discuss constitutionalism and the rule of law. Dr. Mbaku maintains active professional engagement through his legal practice as an attorney licensed before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for Utah, and Utah State Bar. His dual expertise in economics and law uniquely positions him to address complex governance challenges in both academic and practical settings.
