The personal in personal finance is just that – personal! There is no one-size-fit all approach. My hope is that my work helps to shed light on the issues that specific groups face that may not match up with traditional financial advice.
Assistant Professor
What interests me most about my field is learning how to help marginalized populations cultivate personal finance that suits their needs. The personal in personal finance is just that – personal! There is no one-size-fit all approach. My hope is that my work helps to shed light on the issues that specific groups face that may not match up with traditional financial advice.
I teach because I have seen how education has lasting impacts on individuals’ and families’ financial well-being. I have the ability to partner with my students to help them gain and share knowledge that will help our classroom thrive and students grow in their professional development skills. My financial planning students will be help families achieve their financial and life goals, and I want them to take this responsibility seriously.
I am a social constructivist educator who places emphasis on apprenticeship. I believe in using active learning in the classroom because it allows for students to practice what they are learning, and I want students to go through experiences they may have their clients to do. I also think that it is very important for students to leave with skills they can add to their resume, so they can get the career they want.
In my courses, I hope my students gain a sense of joy, a lot of laughter, but a deep desire to do what is in the best interest of the students and clients they will serve. Money is a tool that can be wielded for destruction or to create beautiful things in the world. I want each student to better understand their own financial beliefs and behaviors, so they can better serve people in an empathetic manner.
I have been married for nearly 16 years to my husband, Daniel, and we have boy/girl twins. I love horror movies, comfort shows like Living Single and King of the Hill, and Legos and puzzles are my jam! I am a neurodivergent, and laughter is a part of my therapy. Music and pizza are life!
Kimberly Watkins, Ph.D., Co-PI, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Financial Planning, Housing, and Consumer Economics at The University of Georgia. Her research interests are financial well-being of marginalized populations and DEI in the financial planning profession. Dr. Watkins has published her research in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Financial Planning, the Journal of Family and Economic Issues, and Financial Planning Review. She serves on the editorial boards for the Journal of Consumer Affairs, Financial Planning Review, Journal of Family and Economic Issues, and Financial Services Review. Dr. Watkins’s research is focused on helping financial well-being stakeholders understand the factors that affect individuals’ and families’ financial well-being with a specific focus on race and financial outcomes. She is also the camp director of Financial Planning Academy, a camp focused on introducing financial planning as a career major to high school students.