Meet Matt Eckel, NCPERS' Associate Director of Research
As NCPERS' Associate Director of Research, Matt Eckel helps shape the public pension research agenda and supports the continued growth of two key industry benchmarking surveys.
This spring, Matt Eckel joined the NCPERS' team as its first-ever Associate Director of Research. In this role, he helps shape the public pension research agenda and supports the continued growth of two key industry benchmarking surveys: The Public Pension Compensation Survey and the annual Public Retirement Systems Study.
Keep reading to get to know Matt better and to learn more about what he does as NCPERS' Associate Director of Research:
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: Originally, I hail from Salem, Massachusetts. I was almost an adult before I clocked that the rest of the country doesn't treat Halloween like a month-long extravaganza (I recommend Salem's approach for what it's worth – we all need a little fun in our lives).
Q: Tell us a bit about your previous work experience.
A: I'm a social scientist by inclination and training. I've been fortunate to be able to apply those skills advocating for issues I care about, whether that's access to higher education, health care, stable jobs, adequate incomes, or a dignified retirement. Before I started at NCPERS, I was the Research Director for Young Invincibles, which works on economic empowerment for 18 to 34-year-olds. I also teach a class in quantitative methods at Johns Hopkins here in DC.
Q: What does a typical week as NCPERS' Associate Director of Research look like?
A: One thing I've realized quickly is that there's no truly typical week in this role. Some days I have my head buried in code trying to sort out survey design issues or work through a problem in macroeconomic modeling. Other days I'm interfacing with partner organizations, responding to member requests, or meeting with other researchers in the pension and retirement space.
Q: What do you like most about the role so far?
A: I've been delighted by my colleagues, both here at NCPERS and in the broader world of pension research, advocacy, and administration. People have been as welcoming and friendly as they are committed to protecting the pillars of our collective prosperity.
Q: Having worked in the public pension industry for a few months now, has anything you've learned surprised you?
A: I've been pleasantly surprised by all the varied backgrounds and skillsets that people bring to this job. It makes for no shortage of interesting conversation, professional and otherwise.
Q: Outside of public pension research, what do you enjoy doing?
A: I love to cook (I whip up a mean wine-braised lamb shank), and love to bake (apricots are ripe soon, which means apricot-ginger pie!). I also play and occasionally design board games on esoteric historical topics.
Q: How can members contact you?
A: You can reach me via email at meckel@ncpers.org or by phone at 202-601-2453.
I also hope to see many of you at our upcoming events! In particular, I'm looking forward to the Public Pension Funding Forum, held August 17-19 in Chicago, Illinois. We have a great program planned that will highlight research-driven solutions to funding challenges. View the agenda and register here to join us.