A respected leader in health care policy and economics, Parsons has taught at BYU since 1970 in both the economics and the public management programs. During his tenure at BYU, he served as associate dean of the Marriott School for four years. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Parsons has received national recognition for his research and service in health care administration. He is one of 30 trustees nationwide to serve as a member of the Committee on Governance for the American Hospital Association and has also acted as a trustee for the Urban South Region of Intermountain Health Care. A recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for professional, administrative and teaching excellence, Parsons has received an outstanding professor award from the Marriott School in 1991 and the National Advisory Council in 1987.
Parsons is the author or coauthor of many articles and research reports.
He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in economics from BYU, his doctoral degree in economics from the University of California and completed a post-doctoral study in health economics from the University of Michigan. Walters, who was instrumental in establishing the endowment that created the George W. Romney Institute of Public Management in 1998, will return this semester to full-time teaching and research in public policy analysis and public budgeting. A recipient of a National Science Foundation grant, Walters will also dedicate his research to decision-making in the public sector relative to land use and transportation issues.