The John Maze Stewart Department of Finance & Quantitative Methods at the University of Kentucky offers advanced courses on a variety of financial topics, including corporate finance, international financial management, portfolio management, and investments. In 2012, the department was accepted into the CFA Institute University Recognition Program. This prestigious status is granted to institutions whose degree programs incorporate at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), providing students with a solid grounding in the CBOK and positioning them well to sit for the CFA exams. Additionally, the department offers a Certified Financial Planner CFP Board registered certificate program and opportunities to earn Bloomberg certification, ensuring students receive relevant training and valuable industry-recognized credentials.
The Gatton College of Business and Economics once again made a strong showing on the global stage as three University of Kentucky students competed at the 2025 Microsoft Excel World Collegiate Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team earned an impressive fifth-place finish, continuing Gatton’s growing reputation in this competition.
The University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics Excel team has achieved remarkable success, culminating in a #3 world ranking in the Microsoft World Excel Collegiate Competition.
Will Gerken presented his research on Tracking SEC Inquiries using Geolocation Data last year at our Gatton Research Excellence Series. One year later, the research is rapidly gaining media attention.
In this research, Gerken and his co-authors built a database tracking SEC-associated smartphones to study how they monitor firms. A key finding: firm insiders that sell around a visit avoid large losses.
Jonathan Pliszka, Investment Analysis lecturer, faculty advisor for the MSF Graduate Student Managed Fund, the ESG Student Managed Fund, and the Finance Society, was recently cited by WalletHub in a piece about the Best Personal Loans for Veterans.
