The Financial Management Associations International (FMA) is proud to introduce its newest chapter at Rhodes College. Since August, efforts to form a chapter have been heightened by the guidance of Professor Deborah Pittman, academic advisor. It has been the students, however, who hit the ground running.

After a brief informational meeting in late August, students have rallied with enthusiasm for the beginnings of what promises to be a strong business leadership program. FMA was founded with the mission of “promoting the professional interaction among academics, practitioners, and students”. “With this in mind, I joined FMA for the potential opportunities that could be gained through the organization′s networking chain,” commented John Jamison, newly elected FMA president. Other officers include Evie Plumb, Vice President: Brett Morris, Treasurer: Tiffany Wilding, Marketing Chair: and Will Cooper, Event Planner.

With the help of Prof. Pittman, the association’s campus-wide kick-off event was also announced. Patrick Sweeny, co-founder of Symmetry Partners, an investment management and financial planning firm, will be on campus October 24^th speaking to all students and interested faculty about an investment fund founded and managed by finance professors/graduates of the University of Chicago who are supporters of the efficient market theory. Mr. Sweeny has lectured to countless MBA students at universities such as Dartmouth and the University of Connecticut. “Mr. Sweeny will be a great way to raise campus-wide awareness of the FMA chapter, while providing students with information to help them start saving for the future,” remarked Ms. Wilding.

 Although the chapter is focused on providing financial information to everyone, the officers are hoping to specifically target sophomore and junior Business/Economics majors who want to get a head start on their job search. The primary function of the Rhodes Chapter of the FMA will be to increase networking opportunities for Rhodes students who are interested in careers in finance by allowing them access to the network of FMA professionals through the organization’s web site. Students will also benefit from helpful literature such as “How to Get a Job”, one of the nation’s leading references for undergraduate students starting their job search. The chapter also provides online forums where students can ask specific questions about careers in financial management and receive answers from peers and professionals. Mr. Jamison further emphasized, “I encourage any student who is interested in Business or Economics to join, as it shows a commitment to our field of study. In addition, involvement in extracurricular activities adds to any student′s resume!”

Chapter meetings will be announced in advance, and all students interested in learning more about the wide possibilities that a career in finance has to offer are strongly encouraged to attend and join the Rhodes Chapter.  In addition to building a network of contacts, FMA membership demonstrates focused interested in the area of finance and looks good on a resume.

--Tiffany Wilding, FMA Marketing Chair

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