Empower Your Future

Download the curriculum guide

Our playlist Features:

• Keynote: Jackie Morgan, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
• What can you do with a degree in Economics?
• Panel Discussion: Why is it important for women to study Economics and Finance?
• What can you do with a degree in Finance?
• Student features,  tips for success as a Finance or Econ major, information on student clubs

Learn more about degrees in Economics or Finance at UTC.

Click here to check out an overview of last year's event!

Our Speakers

Keynote

Jackie Morgan, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - Nashville Branch

Jackie Morgan, Outreach Senior Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta – Nashville Branch, is recognized as an established communicator and proven leader in economic and financial education strategy, policy, development, and training.

She has been appointed to Middle Tennessee State University Jones College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, MTSU Economics and Finance Advisory Board, the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission, the National Business Education Association Economics and Personal Finance Education Committee, and the Nashville Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee. She also serves as board member and previous 3-year president of the Tennessee Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, which was recognized by National Jump$tart as the State Coalition of the Year under her leadership. 

Morgan received the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President’s Award for Excellence, the Middle Tennessee State University True Blue Citation of Distinction – Achievement in Education, the MTSU Jones College of Business Exemplar Award, and the RUTHERFORD Cable Spirit of Leadership Award.  Morgan currently serves as President of RUTHERFORD Cable, the premier women’s leadership group in Middle Tennessee. She has been recognized with the Nashville Emerging Leader Award for Education and was named a “Top 40 Under 40” leader by the Nashville Business Journal. 

Morgan has a Master’s Degree in Business Education from Middle Tennessee State University and Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Relations and Agricultural Business & Economics from Colorado State University.

Panelists

Jazmynn Ball,  UNUM Insurance 

Jazmynn graduated from UTC in December 2023 with a degree in Business Finance. She then took a position at Unum as an Underwriter where she performs risk analysis of insurance plans in coordination with sales representatives to make sure they are maintaining sales and profitability goals.

Outside of work, Jazmynn maintains her 8 year strong relationship at her first job ever, The Great Little Caesars. She is a shift leader due to the time commitment, but has been there longer than most in the company today.

Work takes up the majority of her time, so when she finds herself free, she likes to go bowling, practice her culinary skills, and watch American Dad or Family Guy.

Michell Bosch CFO, The Tennessee Housing Development Agency

Michell Bosch is the Chief Financial Officer for the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), where she oversees financial strategy, investment and debt portfolios, and bond issuance to support affordable housing across the state. With a focus on long-term fiscal sustainability, Michell drives financial initiatives that strengthen the agency’s mission and impact.

Previously, Michell was Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. There, she managed multi-billion-dollar investment portfolios, directed billions in debt issuance, and spearheaded strategic financial initiatives that enhanced the city's fiscal resilience. Her expertise spans asset allocation strategy, capital management, risk assessment, and team leadership. Michell holds an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP). 

Claudia Williamson Kramer, Gary W. Rollins College of Business, UTC

Claudia Williamson Kramer is the Probasco Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise and Professor of Economics at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Her main research interests lie at the intersection of applied economic development and political economy. Claudia has authored over 50 articles in refereed journals, including the Journal of Law and Economics, World Development, Journal of Comparative Economics, Public Choice, and the Journal of Institutional Economics. She has co-edited two books, contributed multiple chapters to edited books, written book reviews, and policy briefs. Her research has also appeared in popular press outlets, such as The Economist and the BBC. 

Claudia currently serves as an editor for the Journal of Institutional Economics, on the editorial board of Public Choice, on the board of trustees for the Southern Economic Association, and on the board of fellows for the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee. She  served as the 2022-2023 President of the Association of Private Enterprise Education (APEE) and has served on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Mississippi Advisory Committee. Claudia is a native of West Virginia. She earned her B.B.A. in economics from Marshall University, summa cum laude and with University Honors. She completed her Ph.D. in economics at West Virginia University.

Isabella Loza Ortiz, CFA is an Investment Officer at Unum

Isabella Loza Ortiz, CFA is an Investment Officer at Unum. She is responsible for providing fixed income research in the Food and Beverage sectors for the investment-grade and high-yield portfolios. Isabella joined Unum in 2017 and is also involved with assisting in the trading of Unum’s $20Bn+ investment-grade corporate bond portfolio.

Isabella received a BS in Finance Investments and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Kim Holder, Gary W. Rollins College of Business, UTC

Kim Holder is the Managing Director of the Center for Economic Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Gary W. Rollins College of Business. Prior to her role at UTC, she was Director of Financial Literacy for the University of West Georgia (UWG), Director of the UWG Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy, and Senior Lecturer of Economics in the Richards College of Business (RCOB). She is a nationally recognized, award-winning educator known for her work both in the college classroom and in the community who consistently builds bridges that connect resources with people in need in order to advance economics education. Her work was recognized this year by being chosen as the Georgia Council on Economic Education’s Center Director of the Year, the Woman of the Year by the Carroll Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Alliance, and the RCOB Service Learning and Community Engagement Awards.'

Christi Wann, Gary W. Rollins College of Business, UTC

Dr. Christi Wann is a Professor of Finance in the Department of Finance and Economics at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She teaches courses in Investments, Personal Finance, Corporate Finance, and Small Business Finance.

Dr. Wann’s recent research focuses on differences in financial inclusion by disability type and the extra costs of having a child with a disability. She has also written on the subjects of financial literacy, family financial planning, corporate dividend policy, and behavioral finance. Her work has been published in top journals such as International Journal of Bank Marketing, Review of Behavioral Finance, Journal of Economics and Finance, Banking and Finance Review, and Journal of Family and Economics Issues.

Moderators

Bento Lobo, PhD, CFA, Gary W. Rollins College of Business, UTC

Dr. Lobo is the UC Foundation and First Tennessee Bank Distinguished Professor of Finance in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga where he teaches courses at the senior undergraduate, MBA and Executive MBA levels. Dr. Lobo has a Ph.D. in Financial Economics, Masters degrees in Economics and Management Studies, and a B.A. in Economics. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Dr. Lobo’s research has been published in reputed academic journals and presented at numerous domestic and international conferences.  He is currently the Department Head of Finance and Economics at UTC. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Lobo worked in investment banking in India and Singapore.

Catherine Middleton, Gary W. Rollins College of Business, UTC

Catherine Middleton is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Finance and Economics at the Rollins College of Business at UTC. She holds a BS in Economics and an MBA from UTC, and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Alabama. In addition to Introductory Theory courses, she teaches senior-level courses in the Economics of Sports and the Economics of Gender, Race, and Inequality. Prior to joining the faculty at UTC, she worked in the Financial Industry. She is a Chattanooga-native.

The Gary W. Rollins College of Business is expanding!

With approximately 2,300 majors spanning 10 undergraduate programs, 4 graduate degree programs, and 7 minors, the Gary W. Rollins College of Business graduates more than 550 career-ready business students each year. The approximately 81,000-square foot expansion will allow the college to continue to grow enrollment and provide state-of-the-art facilities in critical areas to meet regional workforce needs. Watch the video below to explore some of the engaging spaces we have planned!

Our Partners:

• Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
• Financial Executives International
• The Trust Company of Tennessee
• Unum
• UTC Office of Access and Engagement
• UTC Probasco Chair of Free Enterprise