"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." John F. Kennedy
In a recent Forbes survey, 92% of employers hiring college graduates state that “leadership experience” is one of their top five skills sought. Shockingly, these same employers state that nearly 60% of recent graduates interviewed lack actual leadership experience.
As always, we are looking for qualified individuals to become the next UTIG Officers. To apply for an officer's position, please email Dr. Cole.
As always, we are looking for qualified individuals to become the next UTIG Officers. To apply for an officer's position, please email Dr. Cole.
Founding Members
Greg Curtin + Dilshod Jumaniyazov
Greg Curtin and Dilshod Jumaniyazov founded the UT Investment Group (UTIG) in Fall 2010 as seniors at the University of Tennessee. They devised the mission, name, monthly meeting format, and even led break-out sessions on non-speaker meeting dates. Greg and Dilshod would meet with students every two weeks and lead discussions on topics such as currency trading, swaps, options and futures trading. The founders would also meet with students studying to take the CFA Level I exam, forming study groups to assist with the difficult material. Since their first semester, which began with approximately 20 students, UTIG has grown to 300+ students annually, and now is an officially recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the state of Tennessee. UTIG hosts a renowned trading competition that garners press coverage from the Knoxville News Sentinel.
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Faculty Advisor
Dr. Laura Seery Cole
Sharon Pryse/The Trust Company Director of MILC Dr. Cole earned multiple degrees from Auburn University before pursuing her Ph.D. in finance from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Cole joined the faculty of the UT Department of Finance in 2009 as director of the Masters Investment Learning Center. Currently, she teaches courses in introductory finance, Bloomberg software, investments, and derivatives in the undergraduate program, the honors Global Leadership Scholars (GLS) program, and the Physicians Executive MBA (PEMBA) program. Her research interests include corporate finance and governance and has been cited in the Wall Street Journal and on Bloomberg. She has been a contributor for wsj.com, Bloomberg, CSPAN, and CNN, as well as local television and news programs. Dr. Cole has served as a panelist for the East Tennessee Women’s Leadership Summit, and been a featured guest on WUOT Radio (NPR Affiliate) for “Women in Business and Leadership Roles,” amongst other segments. Additionally, she lectures to professional investment organizations, clubs, and groups across the Southeast on topics including ethical investing, fundamental valuation techniques, statistical backtesting for portfolios, and options valuation strategies. She serves as the internship coordinator for the Knoxville chapter of Finance Executives International, is on the Board of the Women's Fund of East Tennessee, and speaks pro bono to women's investment groups across the country. In 2014, Dr. Cole was selected as one of the Greater Knoxville Business Journal’s "40 under Forty: The Regions Rising Stars," 2017 was the recipient of the ATA's "Humanitarian of the Year" award, and is in the Leadership Knoxville 2021 class. |
2023 - 2024 Officers
Luke Ireton, President
Luke is a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, majoring in Finance with a collateral in International Business. Outside of UTIG, he is also a part of Global Leadership Scholars, a Senior Bloomberg Analyst in the Masters Investment Learning Center, and in his first semester as a Haslam Torch Fund manager. Because Luke values the constant support he received as an underclassman, he is very passionate about giving back to the Haslam College of Business by encouraging growth for developing students. Luke sees UTIG as a major stepping stone for students to increase their financial literacy even if they do not understand it at first. This past summer, he was an intern for the internal sales desk at John Hancock Investment Management in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduation in May 2024, Luke is looking into pursing a career in financial sales or portfolio management.
Luke is a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, majoring in Finance with a collateral in International Business. Outside of UTIG, he is also a part of Global Leadership Scholars, a Senior Bloomberg Analyst in the Masters Investment Learning Center, and in his first semester as a Haslam Torch Fund manager. Because Luke values the constant support he received as an underclassman, he is very passionate about giving back to the Haslam College of Business by encouraging growth for developing students. Luke sees UTIG as a major stepping stone for students to increase their financial literacy even if they do not understand it at first. This past summer, he was an intern for the internal sales desk at John Hancock Investment Management in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduation in May 2024, Luke is looking into pursing a career in financial sales or portfolio management.
Caden Mitchell, Director of Trading
Caden is a senior from Nashville, Tennessee, majoring in finance with a collateral in accounting. In addition to UTIG, he is a member of the Tennessee Capital Markets Society, the Financial Management Association, and the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. He works as a Bloomberg Analyst in the Masters Investment Learning Center and is in his first semester on the Haslam Torch Fund. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, cooking, and playing chess and tennis. This summer he interned with Bank of America in their Real Estate Corporate Banking Group in Chicago, Illinois, and plans to return to the bank once he graduates in May 2024.
Caden is a senior from Nashville, Tennessee, majoring in finance with a collateral in accounting. In addition to UTIG, he is a member of the Tennessee Capital Markets Society, the Financial Management Association, and the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. He works as a Bloomberg Analyst in the Masters Investment Learning Center and is in his first semester on the Haslam Torch Fund. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, cooking, and playing chess and tennis. This summer he interned with Bank of America in their Real Estate Corporate Banking Group in Chicago, Illinois, and plans to return to the bank once he graduates in May 2024.
Christopher May, Vice President
Christopher is a sophomore from Chicago, Illinois, majoring in Finance and Accounting at the Haslam College of Business. He is also pursuing a concentration in International Business. He is a Greg and Lisa Smith Global Leadership Scholar and actively participates in community service initiatives and career development. In addition to serving on the UTIG board, he is an active member of the Financial Management Association, the International Business Club, the Business Honors Council, and the Christian Student Center. Outside of university, he loves to travel and explore the world, recently traveling to Belize and Toronto. In his free time, he can be found reading, playing the guitar, working out, and learning in general, particularly in business. Christopher is looking forward to having a summer internship in Finance and Accounting and his upcoming semester abroad in London, England.
Christopher is a sophomore from Chicago, Illinois, majoring in Finance and Accounting at the Haslam College of Business. He is also pursuing a concentration in International Business. He is a Greg and Lisa Smith Global Leadership Scholar and actively participates in community service initiatives and career development. In addition to serving on the UTIG board, he is an active member of the Financial Management Association, the International Business Club, the Business Honors Council, and the Christian Student Center. Outside of university, he loves to travel and explore the world, recently traveling to Belize and Toronto. In his free time, he can be found reading, playing the guitar, working out, and learning in general, particularly in business. Christopher is looking forward to having a summer internship in Finance and Accounting and his upcoming semester abroad in London, England.