Nationally known personal finance columnist Jane Bryant Quinn will speak at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Elam Center.

With decades of experience as author, columnist and television personality, Quinn has established herself as America’s leading voice on personal money management.

Her presentation, part of the Academic Speaker Series, is sponsored by UTM Honors Programs, Dunagan Chair of Excellence in Banking, Hendrix Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise, First-Year Initiative and Student Activities Council. The presentation is free and open to the public.

“Jane Bryant Quinn is the most trusted voice on personal finance in the nation today,” said Dr. Dan McDonough, honors programs director.

"Whether through the pages of her bestselling books or her columns in Newsweek or Good Housekeeping, or through her numerous television appearances, millions of Americans have come to rely upon her sage advice on the most important matters of everyday personal finance. Come join us, as Jane takes us through the issues most relevant to our pocketbooks in the current setting.” A graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, she is the author of several books. Her current book, “Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People,” is her personal list of the best strategies for saving money, finding good insurance, planning for college tuition and investing for retirement. Her previous book, “Making the Most of Your Money,” is a comprehensive guide to personal finance that Consumers Union calls the best personal finance book on the market.

Readers have many opportunities to read her opinions, advice and reports through her biweekly columns, cover stories and other reports in Newsweek magazine, her popular monthly column in Good Housekeeping, and her twice-weekly newspaper column, which was syndicated to more than 250 newspapers by the Washington Post Writer’s Group, before she recently gave it up after 27 years.

Quinn also has been a familiar television face, as she co-hosted a PBS investment series, “Beyond Wall Street,” and hosted her own PBS personal finance series, “Taking Charge!”

For 10 years, she appeared twice weekly on the “CBS Morning News” and “The Evening News with Dan Rather.” Also, she was a regular on ABC’s “The Home Show,” as well as a guest on many other shows, including “Good Morning America” and “Nightline.”

She also helped to develop Quicken Financial Planner, the bestselling software program that serves as a personalized guide to saving and investing for college and retirement.

Quinn’s visit also marks the beginning of a financial literacy program on the UTM campus.

Dr. Tom Payne, UTM Dunagan Chair of Excellence in Banking, said, “We are pleased to have Ms. Quinn initiate an effort to inform students and the community about today’s economy and the ‘ins and outs’ of personal finance. Persistently high bankruptcy rates in West Tennessee affect the financial health and well-being of our students, families and communities. As a campus that cares about students and economic development in our region, we at UT Martin are excited to have Ms. Quinn kick off this important and unique endeavor to promote personal financial responsibility.”

Quinn has received numerous awards and honors. She is a three-time winner of the National Press Club’s Consumer Journalism Award, a two-time winner of the John Hancock Award for Excellence in Business and Financial Journalism and the Gerald Loeb Lifetime Achievement Award.