Financial Literacy

Spring 2026

This course will be an introduction to finance and financial literacy, building practical financial management skills with a focus on building responsible financial habits throughout one’s life. We will also develop a firm understanding of core financial principles, including the time value of money, compound interest, debt, leverage, credit, and more. Moving beyond the theoretical and foundational principles of finance, we will ground our work together in the practical tools to understand trends, articulate current and potential economic challenges, and develop strategic approaches to sound financial management and financial responsibility.

We will gather weekly over Zoom for short presentations, Q&A, and discussions. In person sessions will be used to present and discuss project progress with the rest of the class, go on field trips, and meet with guest experts.

Synchronous meeting requirements: 

• Weekly virtual classes: to be scheduled on a weekday evening #-# pm. 
• In-person/F2Fs: there will be 3-5 sessions scheduled mostly on Saturdays/Sundays/weekends.

  UC Approved: Interdisciplinary  

About the Instructor

David Hanson – Branson School
Dr. David Hanson is the Chief Financial and Operating Officer for The Branson School. He is also a partner with Winthrop & Associates, LLC, a consultancy focused on financial and operational sustainability, as well as legal and risk management for non-profit organizations, colleges and independent schools. Prior to joining Branson, Hanson served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Boston office of a global non-profit foundation where he oversaw operations, finance, accounting, investment management, information technology, human resources, and facilities functions. Prior to joining that foundation, Dr. Hanson served Phillips Exeter Academy in dual roles as its Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer. He had responsibility for all financial affairs, information technology, human resources, risk management and legal affairs, as well as facilities and various operating departments.

Hanson is a full-scholarship graduate of the University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business, and earned a J.D. from Ohio Northern University with high distinction as his class valedictorian, also on an academic merit scholarship. He holds master’s degrees in education and business from the University of Florida and Emory University, respectively, and earned his doctorate in education management from the University of Pennsylvania, which he completed with distinction in his dissertation defense. He has taught classes and given presentations at institutions across the globe, and his articles have appeared in publications like NASPA’s Net Impact Journal, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and the University of Tampa Journal. He currently volunteers for various nonprofit organizations and runs marathons to raise money for those organizations.