Tony Villamil, D.Sc. (hc)
Dean, School of Business
Research Professor of Economics
School of Business
St. Thomas University
16401 NW 37th Avenue
Miami Gardens, Fl 33054
Phone: (305) 474-6967


EDUCATION

B.S. Economics, Louisiana State University
M.A. Economics, Louisiana State University
D.Sc. Economics (hc), Florida International University
 
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
 
Business Economics
Economic Policy
Economics of Emerging Markets
 
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Tony Villamil’s leadership qualities and globally recognized expertise in economics, public policy and international trade span the government and private sectors. He has over thirty years of successful experience as a business economist, university educator, and high-level policymaker in both federal and state governments. He has served as a Presidential appointee U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs and Chief Economist of the United States Department of Commerce, being the first Cuban-American to become Undersecretary of Commerce for the nation. Tony is the founder of a successful economic consulting practice, The Washington Economics Group, Inc. (WEG). Since August 2008, Tony has been the Dean of the School of Business at St. Thomas University of Miami, while continuing to serve as principal advisor to the clients of WEG.
Tony is a member of the President’s Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations in Washington, D.C. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors of Florida, and during 1999-2000, he directed the Tourism, Trade and Economic Development activities of the State in the Office of Governor Jeb Bush.  He also served in 2008 as the economist of the constitutionally mandated Tax and Budget Reform Commission of Florida (TBRC). Presently, he is on the Board of Directors of the Spanish Broadcasting System (NASDAQ), Mercantil Commercebank, N.A., and Enterprise Florida – the State’s principal economic development organization.
Dean Villamil serves in numerous civic organizations. He is the Chairman of the Economic Roundtable of the Beacon Council – Miami-Dade County’s official economic development organization. He is also a Senior Research Fellow of Florida TaxWatch, an established fiscal and policy research organization of the State and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
Tony earned Bachelor and Advanced degrees in Economics from Louisiana State University (LSU), where he also completed coursework for the Ph.D. degree. In 1991, Florida International University (FIU) awarded him a doctoral degree in Economics (hc), for “distinguished contributions to the Nation in the field of economics.” An extensive list of publications in academic journals, books and university publications includes the Journal of Public Policy, Institute of Public Policy, Ana G. Mendez University System (Puerto Rico); “Democratic Conditions in Guatemala and their Socio-Economic Impacts,” Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs; Florida Trend and University of Miami’s Center for Hemispheric Policy. He speaks frequently, sharing his insights on the economy with business, government, and university audiences.