Wright State’s Financial Services Program Receives Innovation in Business Education Award

The  AACSB  Mid-Continent East Association of Deans has awarded its 2010 Innovation in Business Education Award to the Raj Soin College of Business Department of Finance and Financial Services. 

The program is one of three award winners recognized among twenty-nine applicants for its creative approach in teaching and preparing business professionals.  

Accepting the award for Wright State was Bill Wood, Lecturer, who’s innovative “Practicum in Financial Planning”, gives undergraduate students the opportunity to develop a financial plan for clients who volunteer from the University community. 

“Mr. Wood’s enthusiastic and innovative teaching style is well deserving of this honor.  We feel strongly that it is this attention to the professional competencies of our students that has allowed our financial services students to be finalists in the Ameriprise Financial Planning Case Competitions five years running and take top prize three times.  We have also noticed high rates of placement and increased employer satisfaction with our students’ ability to ‘hit the ground running’ upon graduation.” said Marlena Akhbari, Chair of the Department of Finance and Financial Services.

Wood added, “The Financial Planning Practicum delivers real life experience for the students and of real life benefit to the clients.  Students do the same work that financial planners across the country do for their clients daily.  This along with numerous internship experiences and the leading-edge technology in our Soin Trading Room definitely give our graduates a competitive edge when they graduate.”

"Mr. Wood has not only found an innovative way to challenge his students, he has also provided a valuable service to the community," said David R. Hopkins, president of Wright State University. "It's this kind of educational experience that Wright State is becoming known for."