CUNA Senior Economist Dawit Kebede joined CUNA’s Policy Analysis Department in 2021. He conducts economic research, supports public relations and advocacy efforts, and leads the forecasting function. Kebede has eight years’ research experience in academic, not-for-profit, and private industry, and his views and analyses appear in financial and trade publications. His previous research covers trade, employment, consumer finance, and policy evaluation using statistics and economic models. Previously, he worked as primary analyst for the Investor Guidance Center and Consumer Sales Channel at TruStage Insurance. Kebede earned a Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin Madison majoring in development economics, a master’s from UW Madison, and Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Additionally, he received a bachelor’s in agribusiness management from Alemaya University in Ethiopia.