Six students became the first to graduate from the University of Utah’s new options to study financial technology (or fintech) earlier this year. Four earned a finance major with a fintech emphasis, and two earned a minor in fintech.

The degree programs were first announced in fall 2022. They are jointly offered by the university’s David Eccles School of Business and the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering. These colleges are working together to provide students with the interdisciplinary experience they need to learn about this quickly growing industry.

“We are excited to offer these degree programs to help students learn about fintech and the intersection of business and technology,” said Rachel Hayes, dean of the David Eccles School of Business. “Salt Lake City has a booming fintech industry, and our students will be ready to enter this career field as soon as they graduate.”

In a related development, the Eccles School and Price College recently announced the University of Utah’s new Stena Center for Financial Technology with the support of the Stena Foundation and a total funding commitment of up to $65 million over the next 10 years. The center is also working with multiple divisions of the university, including its S.J. Quinney College of Law, to engage all types of students.

The addition of the Stena Center on top of the new academic opportunities marks a big step toward the university’s goal to be a national leader in fintech education and research.

“The University of Utah is the place to be if you are interested in fintech,” said Richard Brown, H. E. Thomas Presidential Endowed Dean of the Price College of Engineering. “Our alumni are some of the people who made Utah a leader in financial technology. The joint fintech program gives students even better preparation to contribute in this area. I anticipate continuing growth in student interest from the engineering side as the opportunities in fintech become apparent.”

Donovan Martucci is one of the first students who graduated with a finance degree with a fintech emphasis. He wanted to study fintech to go beyond the buzzword and learn what it is and how he can use it to advance his career and make an impact. He also participated in the new student blockchain club at the university. Martucci is now applying his degree as a financial advisor at Elevated Private Wealth Advisors.

“In my financial career, my goal is to help bridge the gap between traditional finance and innovative technology,” he said. “By integrating contemporary knowledge, I aspire to create accessible and impactful financial experiences for individuals and businesses alike.”

Martucci encouraged other students to explore fintech. “Embrace the fusion of finance and technology,” he said. “Both finance and technology have played integral roles in all of our lives, and their influence is likely to persist indefinitely.”

All students at the University of Utah are welcome to register for fintech academic opportunities. They can choose from electives, the minor, or the finance major with a fintech emphasis. One option is to start with an introductory course then advance to one of the degree options.

Fintech students learn the range of business models and technologies disrupting financial services. They gain advanced knowledge and skills to succeed in the future, build a career, and improve financial accessibility. After graduating, students join a rapidly growing industry, fueled by the rising demand for digital financial services, including mobile banking, e-commerce, and digital wallets.

“We have already seen a lot of interest from students who want to study fintech, and we expect a lot more interest in the future,” said Gene Levinzon, a professor of fintech at the Eccles School. “Our students will be helping to build the future of the financial-services industry that now reaches every part of our lives.”

Learn more about fintech academic options and opportunities at the University of Utah at Eccles.Utah.edu/fintech.

Fintech graduates in spring 2023

Here are the students who completed degrees in fintech at the University of Utah in spring 2023:

• Cameron Davis (finance with fintech emphasis major)
• Alexandra Ridge (finance with fintech emphasis and art history major)
• Donovan Martucci (finance with fintech emphasis major)
• Alec Perschon (finance with fintech emphasis major)
• Billy O’Hare (information systems major, fintech minor)
• Hunter Gehl (business administration major, fintech minor)

About the David Eccles School of Business

The Eccles School is synonymous with “doing.” The Eccles experience provides a world-class business education with a unique, entrepreneurial focus on real-world scenarios where students put what they learn into practice long before graduation. Founded in 1917 and educating more than 6,000 students annually, the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business offers nine undergraduate majors, four MBAs, eight other graduate programs, a Ph.D. in five areas and executive education curricula. The school is also home to more than 20 institutes, centers and initiatives, which deliver academic research and support an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation. For more information, visit eccles.utah.edu or call 801-581-7676.

About the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering

The University of Utah’s John and Marcia Price College of Engineering is the premier educational institution in Utah for computer science and engineering as well as one of the top engineering schools in the nation. Each year, the College graduates more than 1,300 students from seven engineering disciplines and gives them the skills they need to succeed in the growing technology market. With world-class faculty and facilities, the College is dedicated to pioneering research that benefits the world. Learn more at price.utah.edu.