Kansas State University

Personal Financial Planning has added two new faculty members and articulated goals as it prepares to meet the challenges of providing premier technologically advanced education, increasing financial literacy among students, and conducting cutting edge practical research.

One of our primary short-term goals is to grow the size of our undergraduate degree program to at least 100 students within the next three years to meet the growing demand for financial planners, said Sonya Britt, Ph.D., CFP ® and program coordinator.

Martin Seay and Cliff Robb joined the program this semester.

Robb, associate professor who was on the faculty at the University of Alabama, is a specialist in financial literacy (with an emphasis on the relationship between financial knowledge and observable financial behavior), college student financial behavior, and financial satisfaction and well-being.

Seay, assistant professor who earned his Ph. D. in housing and consumer economics with an emphasis on family financial planning from the University of Georgia, specializes in the intersection of housing wealth and family Continue reading “Britt outlines goals; Robb, Seay join faculty” →

Students win

For the fifth time in 12 years, K-State students won the championship of the National Collegiate Financial Planning competition. Team members, all seniors in personal financial planning, are Matt Gould, Wende Witthuhn and Kristen Moore.

Ann Coulson, assistant professor in the School of Family Studies and Human Services, was the team’s adviser.

The team won $10,000 for scholarships in the personal financial Continue reading “A year of firsts: National champions, PhD grad No. 1, military partner, on and on” →

Invest-A-Cats offers students hands-on experience in gathering, investing, and distributing assets for charitable purposes.

Officers are Matt Gould, president, and Sam Honey, vice president.

Students apply classroom knowledge to real world decisions, explained Martin Seay, the group’s adviser. Working with the K-State Foundation, the group builds a donor base, makes investments and manages a portfolio. They learn to increase the endowment’s principal and to make distribution decisions, usually scholarships.

Donors and friends play a large role in student success, Dr. Seay added. Professionals from throughout the state visit to share their expertise, providing valuable insight and training for the students.

Invest-A-Cats is a charitable tax-exempt project. For information on the student project or on donations, contact Dr. Seay at mseay@ksu.edu or Human Ecology development director Jennifer Rettele-Thomas at jenniferr@found.ksu.edu.

Dean of the College of Human Ecology

Virginia Moxley, Ph.D.

Director of the School of Family Studies and Human Services

Maurice MacDonald, Ph.D, professor

Personal Financial Planning Faculty

Sonya Britt, Ph.D., CFP ®, director

Kristy Archuleta, Ph.D., assistant professor

Daniel J. Botz, J.D., assistant professor, Salina

Ann Coulson, Ph.D., assistant professor

Continue reading “Who’s who” →

Friends and alumni make a difference in the lives of our students in many ways. They offer internships, travel to Manhattan to talk to classes, hire graduates, help guide the program and donate financial support. To explore ways to give to the Personal Financial Planning program, contact Jennifer Rettele-Thomas, senior development director for Human Ecology, at the Kansas State University Foundation, 2323 Anderson Ave., Suite 500, Manhattan, Ks. 66502, or jenniferr@found.ksu.edu or 800-432-1578 or (785) 532-7592.

Learn more about PFP or the School of Family Studies and Human Services or the College of Human Ecology.