N.C. A&T to Host Statewide Economics and Personal Finance Institute for Educators

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 17, 2026) – The Department of Economics in the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host the North Carolina Council on Economic Education’s (NCCEE) Economics and Personal Finance (EPF) Institute, scheduled for Monday, July 20, through Friday, July 24.

This is North Carolina A&T’s second year hosting this program, which provides North Carolina educators with 40 hours of intensive professional development designed to strengthen economics and personal finance instruction in classrooms.

The EPF Institute equips educators with engaging, standards-based lessons, classroom resources, and practical teaching strategies that help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed financial decisions.

Through collaborative learning experiences and expert-led sessions, participants will deepen their understanding of economics and personal finance concepts while earning continuing education credit.

“The goal is to create these collaborations with high school teachers throughout the state in the hope that those exchanges of ideas, information and dialogue create a mutually beneficial relationship where they encourage their kids to check us out and enroll in our programs, or the Deese College’s programs,” said Hal Snarr, Ph.D., teaching assistant professor in the Department of Economics.

Snarr, who has played an integral role in cultivating this partnership with NCCEE, is passionate about increasing financial literacy in individuals — especially students. His mission is to be a resource to educators and students alike.

Sessions will be led by experts representing organizations including the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Next Gen Personal Finance, VISA, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and Marginal Revolution University. Participants will receive classroom-ready materials and interactive approaches to teaching topics such as economic decision-making, budgeting, saving, and personal finance.

Hosting the EPF Institute reflects A&T’s commitment to educational innovation, community engagement, and excellence in economics education. By investing in educators, the institute helps expand access to high-quality financial literacy instruction for students throughout North Carolina.

The Deese College’s Economics Department will showcase its innovative approaches to teaching economics, business mathematics and statistics through the work of faculty members who incorporate interactive, technology-enhanced learning strategies. These strategies promote student engagement, critical thinking and academic integrity in the age of artificial intelligence.

After taking part in this institute, educators will be empowered with the knowledge and resources needed to make economics and personal finance engaging and accessible in their classrooms. The program’s impact extends beyond the week-long experience, benefiting students across the state through stronger financial literacy education and preparing them for lifelong success.