Faculty Advisor
Role of Faculty Advisor
BASIS is autonomously run by students, but Professor Coleman from the Finance Department acts somewhat as a board of directors and oversees the operational decisions, coordinates with the Foundation and other stakeholders, and ensures that policies and procedures are in place and followed. Professor Coleman provides continuity, advice, and structure while supporting the primary education mission of the group through seminars, mentoring, and participation in the weekly meetings.
In addition, Professor Coleman serves the students through communications with alumni, industry experts (such as the BASIS Advisory Board), recruiters, sponsors, and others who have an interest in the success of the organization. Professor Coleman also teaches classes that the students must take as members of BASIS, and thus he has a first-hand knowledge of the students’ strengths and abilities and how those can be best utilized within BASIS and by companies recruiting them for summer internships and permanent positions.
Professor Will Coleman
Assistant Professor of Practice
Education and Certification
B.S., Business: Major in Finance, Virginia Tech, 2016
B.S., Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2016
Biography
After graduating from Virginia Tech in 2016 and serving as a co-CEO for BASIS, Professor Will Coleman moved to New York to work as an investment banking analyst for Goldman Sachs. During this time, he provided advice to 30 clients across a variety of sectors on how to raise capital, tactics for mergers, and valuing acquisitions. In 2018, Coleman left New York for Chicago where he worked as a private equity associate for Madison Dearborn Partners. In his tenure there, he collaborated with management teams to discuss growth strategies and evaluate new opportunities, and manage the $4.4 billion private equity fund.
In August of 2021, Coleman moved back to his alma mater to serve as an Instructor of Finance. He currently teaches students on how to efficiently navigate Microsoft Excel, forecast data, and make exceptional financial models. His involvement with Wall Street Prep offers these same skills to thousands of students annually. Aside from this service, Coleman is involved with the Teach for America Chicago-NW Indiana Auxiliary Board, America SCORES Chicago Executive Board, and Scholars of Finance Associate Board. As the faculty advisor for BASIS, he oversees and manages the investment process while pushing the members to reach their full potential.
Contact Information
2119 Pamplin (0221)
880 West Campus Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Email: wjc2015@vt.edu
Phone: (540) 231-4450
Previous Faculty Advisor
Dr. George Morgan
Truist Professor of Finance
Education and Certification
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1977
M.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1975
B.S., Georgetown University, 1973
Teaching
Dr. Morgan has taught courses at the undergraduate, MBA, and Ph.D. levels. He created new interdisciplinary courses on deploying broadband wireless and on commercializing wireless networking technologies. He has taught the course for undergraduates interested in fixed-income markets with the goal of acquiring the knowledge needed to operate BASIS. He served as a Visiting Scholar at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and as a Visiting Lecturer at the International Space University. Prior to joining the faculty at Virginia Tech, he held the position of Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Morgan organized and co-led a study abroad program in Barcelona on finance and art.
Research
Dr. Morgan’s research revolves around the decisions regulators should make when faced with issues related to disciplining banks. He also examines the ways bankers can hedge their interest-rate and foreign currency exchange rate risks. His research centers on the use and risks of futures trading and the management and regulation of commercial banking organizations and their regulatory capital positions. His work has appeared in many reputable journals like The Journal of Finance. Dr. Morgan’s research in CWT helped to bring advanced broadband communications capabilities to consumers and businesses, especially in rural areas.
Contact Information
1023 Pamplin
880 West Campus Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Email: gmorgan@vt.edu
Phone: (540) 231-7380