Xavier Professors Like Dr. Jones use Fun to Help Students Succeed

Dec 6, 2018

It’s not often you find a professor who’s willing to uncover the humor in a topic like finance.

“I know that finance is not the most interesting subject matter for every student, so I try to make my classes light-hearted and fun to keep students engaged and involved,” says Tim Jones, assistant professor of Finance at Xavier.

So, what does he do to make it more exciting?

“Every semester, I do a ‘Pimp My Ride’ exercise based upon the MTV show to illustrate finance concepts related to capital budgeting,” he says. “It’s my favorite lecture, and it’s usually the most memorable class for the students, too.”

That’s the kind of experience you can expect when taking Jones’ classes, which involve Finance and Real Estate.

“I became a college professor because I enjoy teaching and researching finance/real estate topics,” he says. “My professors had a big impact on my undergraduate and graduate studies, and they motivated me to follow in their footsteps.”

After graduating with degrees from Stanford, Washington University in St. Louis, and Florida State, Jones came to Xavier nearly four years ago because he felt a connection with his fellow faculty members.

“They were all very welcoming, and they took the time to get to know me as a person, as well as an academic,” he says. “Everywhere on campus, you can tell that this University cares about its faculty, staff, and students.”

One of his most challenging classes is FINC 475, where he attempts to introduce real estate to finance majors as a career opportunity.

“I usually invite a few guest speakers to talk with the students each semester about their careers in real estate,” he says. “Professionals from many different areas, including loan officers, appraisers, investors, developers, and lawyers have visited the class and given the students valuable, real-world information and career advice that they wouldn’t find in a textbook.”

Along the way, he’s learned about Xavier — and gotten a new respect for his students, as well as the school.

“I enjoy getting to know the students throughout the semester and understanding what motivates them,” he says. “I’m always eager to meet a new group of students at the start of each semester and teach them something new. Xavier’s business school offers a truly unique experience that will give them the tools to be more successful in their professional career and daily life.”

The small class sizes offer students a chance to more easily communicate with professors, he says.

“As a student, I didn’t get to know my professors because my class sizes were so large and, honestly, they intimidated me,” he says. “At Xavier, I don’t sense that feeling among students. The professors are approachable, accessible, and genuinely want to see their students succeed.”