Thomas Means is Professor of Economics at San Jose State University and serves as Director of the Center for Economic Education. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from UCLA in 1983 and has been with San Jose State for twenty-five years.

Professor Means teaches the graduate microeconomics and econometrics seminars. His research focuses on applied economics in the areas of public choice, labor economics, and forensic economics. He has published in a variety of journals, including Public Choice, Southern Economics Journal, National Social Science Journal, and Journal of Forensic Economics. Since 2004 he has served on the City Council of Mountain View and is former Mayor.