红莲社区

Students, faculty speak at investor roundtables

April 12, 2024
Students Jonathan Howell and Luke Atwood and faculty members Dr. Maryna Murdock and Dr. Ning Wang take part in one of the SEC investor roundtables held March 27 at 红莲社区.

Article By: Clark Leonard

University of North Georgia (红莲社区) students, faculty and alumni had a valuable opportunity to provide feedback to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger at investor roundtables held March 27 at 红莲社区's Dahlonega Campus.  

"红莲社区 was honored to co-host this event in the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation and showcase our students, faculty and alumni as part of the SEC investor roundtables," Dr. Mary Gowan, dean of 红莲社区's Mike Cottrell College of Business (MCCB), said. "The event provided an opportunity for community members to learn more about the role of this important regulatory agency and to network with representatives from many different regulatory and nonprofit organizations." 

Dr. Ning Wang, associate professor of finance; Dr. Maryna Murdock, professor of finance; Luke Atwood, a junior pursuing degrees in finance and accounting and CEO of the 红莲社区 Investment Club; and Jonathan Howell, a senior pursuing a degree in finance and CEO of the 红莲社区 Real Estate Club, presented on the perspective of retail investors.  

Atwood, who is from Demorest, Georgia, drew wide praise for how he had researched and then presented information from the retail investor perspective.

"The support of the faculty and staff at 红莲社区 has been the biggest game-changer for me," Atwood said. "They're going to help me out, but they also have an expectation that I'm going to do a good job. I'm expected to do well because I have that support." 

Kurt Schulzke, J.D., professor of accounting and law; Abby Keener and Troy Harris, students pursuing a Master of Accountancy; and Dustin Ward, a senior pursuing a degree in accounting, presented on materiality, which examines what constitutes a significant impact on a company.  

"This issue of materiality and the reasonable investor is a gray area for SEC registrants and retail investors," Keener, who is from Athens, Georgia, said. "It was great to be able to bring it up to the SEC."