Merl Hackbart

Member - KPPA
Chair - CERS Investment Committee
Member - CERS Actuarial Committee

Governor Appointee – Term expires March 31, 2025

Merl M. Hackbart was appointed to the CERS Board of Trustees by Governor Andy Beshear for a four-year term beginning April 1, 2021. He was nominated for appointment by the Kentucky Association of Counties (KAC0).

Dr. Hackbart, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Finance and Public Policy at the University of Kentucky. In addition to his career at the University of Kentucky, he has served twice as State Budget Director for Kentucky, was part of the state's Consensus Forecasting Group and has served on the Council on Postsecondary Education.  He has held several administrative positions at UK including Special Assistant to the Provost, Interim and Associate Dean of the Gatton College of Business and Economics and Director of the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. His research has focused on public financial management, bond financing, public pensions and municipal securities. He is a member of Financial Executives International, the Association of Public Budgeting & Financial Management and Rotary International among other organizations. He is a Fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration and has been inducted into the Kentucky Public Service Hall of Fame among other recognitions.