For press information, contact Sarah Adair, 901-678-4966

The University of Memphis’ Papasan Public Policy Institute will hold a public policy forum on financial literacy Wednesday, April 15, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville.  “Financial Literacy: Today’s Youth & Tomorrow’s Economy” will draw state legislators and government officials, but the public is welcome to attend also.

Panel participants will include Bob Duvall, executive director of the National Council for Economic Education; Leslie Newman, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance; Dr. Julie Heath, professor of economics at the U of M; Colin Barrett, vice president of administration for the Tennessee Bankers Association; and Courtney Gedulig, chief financial counsel to U.S. Sen. Bob Corker.

Dr. Heath is head of the Center for Economic Education at the University of Memphis; the Center offers professional development to K-12 teachers to help them integrate economic and financial literacy instruction into their classes.  In 2006, the Center initiated a statewide program, Smart Tennessee, the first comprehensive financial literacy program in the nation.  Since its inception, more than 37,000 Tennessee children in grades K-12 have received financial literacy instruction through that program.

The Papasan Institute’s goal is to foster the flow of information about key issues facing the Tennessee State Legislature.  The Institute is named in honor of Larry Papasan, a past chairman of the University’s Board of Visitors and a former chairman of the University of Memphis Foundation’s board of directors.  Papasan retired from Smith & Nephew in 2002, after serving as its president for 11 years.  He had earlier been president of Memphis Light Gas & Water Division (1984-1991) and a 28-year career employee of MLGW.  Papasan is also a board member of the Memphis Biotech Foundation, Le Bonheur Hospital Foundation, and the Plough Foundation.

For more information about the Institute or this month’s forum, call Sarah Adair at 901-678-4966.