School of Business Professor Dr. Ajamu Loving Honored for Making History and Teaching Financial Literacy

Dr. Ajamu Loving’s passion is financial literacy: educating people about money. From saving to investing, from buying a home to planning for retirement.

As an associate professor of finance at the UNT Dallas School of Business, Dr. Loving is dedicated to making financial planning more accessible to all. “I’m a people person who is also good at numbers,” Dr. Loving said.

He is especially focused on closing the race-based wealth gap, the historic disparity documented in the 1995 book, Black Wealth / White Wealth, by Melvin Oliver and Thomas Shapiro. The authors’ groundbreaking research analyzed wealth - total assets and debts rather than income alone - to uncover deep and persistent racial inequality in America. It provided systematic empirical evidence that explained the racial inequality gap between blacks and whites. 

VIDEO: Watch Dr. Loving Talk About Wealth Building and Teaching People About Money

“Financial health is fuel to create wealth - the pillar of wealth-building and quality of life,” Dr. Loving said. His passion aligns directly with UNT Dallas’s mission to improve socioeconomic mobility in southern Dallas and surrounding communities.

UNT Dallas is home to the Center for Socioeconomic Mobility Through Education. CSME collaborates with businesses, community groups, nonprofits and researchers to innovate ways to improve economic opportunities for residents of southern Dallas.

Dr. Loving served as chairman of the Trailblazer Advisory Group, which created the Economic Impact Analysis for Southern Gateway Park, which is now under construction at I-35E and Marsalis Ave., adjacent to the Dallas Zoo. The analysis by Dr. Loving and three UNT Dallas School of Business colleagues projects the deck park will have a five-year economic impact of $800 million to $1 billion.

“There are endless opportunities,” Dr. Loving said. “This shows what can happen with development in historically underinvested areas.” He believes the park’s impact will radiate out and that what is beginning to happen in southern Dallas is the “perfect positive storm for growth.”

Such growth will accelerate the need of nearby residents for financial education, as their property values (and taxes) increase, demand for land grows and additional development sparks. They will face challenges and opportunities related to money.

VIDEO: Watch Dr. Loving's Reaction to Being Named Distinguished Alumnus of TTU

Dr. Loving’s dedication to financial literacy and his accomplishments inside and outside the academic world led to his recent recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus of the Texas Tech University Graduate School. In 2009, he was the first African American to graduate with a Ph.D. in Personal and Financial Planning from Texas Tech.

 “It (Texas Tech) gave me the opportunity to make history,” said Dr. Loving. His advice to others who want to succeed is simple. “Put your head down, stay focused on your passion.”

Living in Lubbock where Texas Tech is located helped Dr. Loving focus. “It’s the embodiment of Texas,” he said. “Boots, hats, tumbleweeds. Comfortable. The slower pace I needed.”

One of the lessons Dr. Loving learned, which he espouses frequently, is “People are more important than things.” He uses the phrase with his students at UNT Dallas and in public to emphasize the importance of education and expertise when it comes to personal finance.

He compares financial health to physical health. Individuals can check their pulse, heartbeat, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and weight. But they also need regular exams and expert advice from doctors. “People still need professionals,” Dr. Loving said, “to improve their access to knowledge and human capital, especially when it comes to investing.”

Whether it’s in a classroom, a conference room or a board room, Dr. Loving’s commitment to financial literacy is the driving force behind his message and his achievements. “The rewards can surpass expectations,” he said.