High-impact, real-time investing empowers Finance grad

The word “lab” usually conjures up images of white coats, Bunsen burners, and the occasional white mouse. But at the Willie D. Davis Finance & Investment Laboratory, the only “mouse” you’ll find is connected to a computer.

However, according to Mussie Teclezion, UW-Green Bay associate professor of Finance, that doesn’t mean there isn’t serious research going on. The research primarily focuses on analyzing the financial health of corporations. “The Willie D. Davis Finance and Investment Lab offers students a practical and immersive learning experience, preparing them for careers in various finance-related fields.”

Data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) says that students who participate in research projects with faculty “broaden and deepen undergraduate learning and support a range of skill developments.” In fact, seniors who participated in undergraduate research, deemed a high-impact practice (HIP), were further challenged as students, increased their job-related skills and importantly, 78% reported that this practice helped prepare them for plans after graduation.

It’s also a great way to try various career paths, from investing to advising to fund management. Josh Johannson, a freshly-minted UW-Green Bay graduate and finance major, has tried all three. And though he’ll soon be offering professional investment advice at Northwestern Mutual, he would also advise any aspiring finance major to diversify their academic portfolio and make as much use of the lab as possible.

“I would just say try and throw yourself as much into it as you can, any opportunity that comes up,” Johannson suggests. “For instance, I seized the opportunity to join the Student Managed Investment Fund three semesters ago, which has been an enriching learning experience.”

Finance student Joshua Johansen poses in the Willie Davis Finance & Investment Lab. UW-Green Bay, Sue Pischke University Photographer

The Student Managed Investment Fund, of which Johannson was co-portfolio manager for more than a year, offers finance students real-world trading experience. They collaborate, research companies, trade stocks, and report on their investments within a trading floor environment that includes 36 seats with LED tickers and specialized market data terminals.

Other students in the class have specific sectors assigned to them for research and they collectively discuss their findings. The fund’s presentations are primarily for internal discussion, with reporting to the board (a mix of local financial professionals and faculty) happening periodically. “It’s a way for students to really get a hands-on experience,” Johannson says. “I’m using real money rather than something simulated, helping the fund grow within the university.”

The “real-life” money is available thanks to the generosity of UW-Green Bay alumni and friends. The students also manage donated funds that serve as an endowment to power the work of the lab.

Prof. Teclezion notes the lab also functions just as effectively as a classroom. “We built it with an idea that it would make it easier for the instructor to engage with students. Many of the terminals are within the line of view of the instructor.” Plus, four TV panels keep everyone plugged into the pundits and the latest financial news. One panel on the right-hand side from the instructors is actually a touchscreen.

“It’s extremely high-tech,” Teclezion explains. “From the physical side of it, you have the 36 stations, and anything from the instructor’s terminal can be projected to the projector on the wall, as well as to those four screens at the same time.”

What also commands attention is the ticker feed as company symbols, plus price data, is continuously updated throughout the day in a colorful whirl. The stocks displayed in the feed can be customized to feature those in the Student Managed Investment Fund portfolio and/or local companies. “I think it is really cool to see it in there. I catch myself staring at it a little bit and seeing what stocks are on there and how they’re doing,” Johannson admits.

And as for the long-term outlook for both the program and the grads, both are definitely on an upward trajectory. The Finance program at UW-Green Bay is growing steadily, with more than 130 students currently, and Teclezion doesn’t see them slowing down. “I think we’re able to support our finance undergrads in a very solid way to give them practical education. I think we could accommodate up to 500 students.”

To learn more about supporting UW-Green Bay and the Willie D. Davis Finance and Investment Lab, contact Madeline VanGroll, Advancement and Donor Relations Director at vangrolm@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2388.