SCC President Dr. Michael Mikota Appointed to South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors

South Carolina Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler announced he has appointed Dr. Michael Mikota to serve on the South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors (BEA).

"The economic forecast produced by the BEA is one of the most important pieces of the budgetary process," said Senator Harvey Peeler. "As a native of Gaffney and the President of our Community College, I know Dr. Mikota will do a great job and make our community proud."

"After spending several years working in Washington, D.C., I was compelled to return home and put my skills and expertise to work driving positive outcomes for South Carolinians. Being asked by Senator Peeler to serve on the Board of Economic Advisors is a tremendous honor and I look forward to providing insight that builds upon the recent explosion of economic growth we have realized and furthers prosperity for all South Carolinians," said Dr. Mikota.

The BEA serves as the chief economic advisor and economic consultant to the state of South Carolina, with its chief responsibility being that of forecasting state revenues, and its membership is established as follows:

• • • A Chairman, appointed by the Governor
    • A member appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee
    • A member appointed by the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee
    • A non-voting, ex-officio representative of the Department of Revenue

BEA members have a working knowledge and experience in economics, revenue forecasting, and the state budget process. For more information on the SC BEA, please visit https://rfa.sc.gov/boards-committees/bea.

Dr. Mikota has served as president of Spartanburg Community College since 2020 and was previously president of Central Carolina Technical College. A native of Gaffney, SC, Dr. Mikota holds a bachelor’s from Wofford College, an MBA from Gardner-Webb University, and a Ph.D. in Policy Studies from Clemson University and has spent his career at the intersection of economics, education, and policy. 

At Clemson, Dr. Mikota served as president of the Graduate Student Body, a National Fellow with the U.S. Government focused on Water Trading Quality and Wetlands Banking, a Watershed Policy Director, and an adjunct professor and lecturer. Following this he served as a Senior Analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C. before returning to South Carolina as Executive Director of the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments where he led innovative efforts to drive prosperity and enhance quality of life. 

Dr. Mikota additionally serves on the South Coordinating Council for Workforce Development and the South Carolina Labor Force Participation Task Force. He resides in Spartanburg, SC with his wife and their three children.