Macon State College MVPs is a web feature that profiles notable students, alumni, faculty and staff.

Family: “My parents, Millie and Percy George, reside in Latta, S.C. They are currently enjoying retirement and acting like farmers. I have a son, Percy George III, who is 11 and the apple of my eye. My sister, Christy, lives in Annapolis, Md., with her husband, Mark, and their two children, Henry (9) and Kathryn (11).”

Job Title: Associate professor of economics and director of the Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting.

Degrees: Bachelor of science in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; master of science in earth and environmental resource management and Ph.D. in economics from the University of South Carolina.

Year he joined the Macon State faculty: 2001.

Some of his teaching career highlights are … “I had a paper published in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization last year. JEBO is considered a top-30 journal in economics.”

He enjoys teaching at Macon State College because … “The students come from a diverse background, which creates an interesting and challenging classroom environment. Macon State serves a wide range of students from all walks of life, which often leads to enriching discussions.”

His favorite course to teach is … “International economics. Introducing students to the benefits and pitfalls of rapid globalization is both useful and fulfilling. I really believe students leave the class with a better understanding of the challenges we face as a community and a nation, as well as a tool-set to better prepare for a rapidly changing world.”

One thing people don’t know about Macon State is … “We have a Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting, which is housed in the School of Business. Dr. Sasha Tomic and I founded the center a few years ago (his idea) and we have been engaged in various projects with local institutions throughout Central Georgia. Today, Dr. Trip Shinn and I are in charge of maintaining the center and fulfilling its mission – to support economic development in our sphere of influence.”

One thing people don’t know about him is … “I like to fix things. I do a lot of my own plumbing, electrical work, car maintenance, sewing (yes, sewing) and carpentry.”

In his spare time he likes to … “Watch sports on TV (college basketball and football primarily) and grill out (charcoal, not propane).”

The one person he’d most like to meet is … “I don’t like questions like this and find them very difficult to answer. I would rather tell you the people I’d least like to meet because that’s easier. Paris Hilton tops the list, and then just about anyone that’s ever been on a reality TV show. I really don’t like Madonna, Sting, Bono or anyone else who adopts a single kitschy moniker. There are also a slew of ‘historical’ figures I am equally disinterested in meeting, but out of respect for the dead, I won’t name them.”

If he wasn’t a college professor he would be … “Unemployed and homeless. I really can’t see myself doing any other job. As a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut, a rock star or a spy, but I don’t anymore.”