Dr. Craig Carpenter is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. Dr. Carpenter's research efforts focus on the use of federal administrative data to examine questions related to the interaction of race, ethnicity, veteran status, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. More recently, he began examining policy questions related to early life exposure to government programs and effects on later life labor market outcomes. His Extension efforts revolve around community and economic development. He has published numerous articles on entrepreneurship, public policy, and regional economic growth and been honored with research and outreach awards. He has served in multiple leadership roles, including the Chair of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Community and Regional Economic Network section, President of NE1749 Enhancing Rural Economic Opportunities, Community Resilience, and Entrepreneurship (USDA-funded multistate research project group), Chair of the National Association of Community Development and Extension Professionals Finance Committee, and President of the Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, among others.