Prior to coming to Weber State University, Dr. Mbaku was a tenured professor at Kennesaw State University, where he taught from 1985 to 1991.
At Weber State University, Dr. Mbaku was awarded the John S. Hinckley faculty award for excellence in exemplary teaching, outstanding scholarship, and extraordinary service. He has also held the Willard L. Eccles research fellowship since 1994. He is a former (1986-2007) associate editor (Africa) of the Journal of Third World Studies.
His most recent books include The Transition to Democratic Governance in Africa: The Continuing Struggle (Praeger, edited with Julius O. Ihonvbere); Multiparty Democracy and Political Change: Constraints to Democratization in Africa (Africa World Press, edited with Julius O. Ihonvbere); Institutions and Development in Africa (Africa World Press); Culture and Customs of Cameroon (Greenwood Press) and Corruption in Africa: Causes, Consequences, and Cleanups (Lexington Press).
Dr. Mbaku has consulted with the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, African Economic Research Consortium, and the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
While in law school, Dr. Mbaku was the recipient of the CALI: Excellence for the Future award in Environmental Law; CALI: Excellence for the Future award in International Law; First Prize Winner of the Nathan Burkan Memorial Competition in Copyright Law (American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers); the 2009 Stephen Pierre Traynor Outstanding Legal Writing Award; and Outstanding Achievement Award in Business Organizations. During the 2009-2010 academic year, Dr. Mbaku served as the managing editor of the Journal of Land, Resources & Environmental Law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Born in Cameroon, he was educated at the Cameroon Protestant College (Cameroon), Berry College (Mount Berry, Georgia; B.S. Chemistry), The University of South Carolina (Masters in International Business Studies), The University of Georgia (Ph.D., economics), and The S. J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah (J.D. & Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law).
Dr. Mbaku is a member of the Utah State Bar and the American Bar Association. An Attorney and Counselor at law, he is licensed to practice in the Supreme Court of the State of Utah and the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.
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Areas of Expertise
- Public choice, constitutional political economy, law and development, international human rights, intellectual property, environmental and natural resources law, corruption and institutional reforms in Africa
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Current Positions
- Willard L. Eccles Professor of Economics, Weber State University, July 1994–Present (John S. Hinckley Fellow, 2000 – Present)
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Past Positions
- Associate Professor of Economics, Weber State University, July 1991–June 1994
- Associate Professor of Economics, Kennesaw State University, September 1990–June 1991
- Assistant Professor of Economics, Kennesaw State University, September 1985–June 1990
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Education
- B.S. (Chemistry, 1977, Berry College, Mount Berry, Georgia)
- M.I.B.S. (Master in International Business Studies, 1979, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina)
- Ph.D. (Economics, 1985, University of Georgia)
- J.D. (Law, 2010, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah)
- Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law (2010, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah).