Darwin Hopwood, Lecturer, Commercial Banking Advisory Board Faculty Fellow
When Darwin Hopwood mentions that he teaches financial literacy at UNLV, he often hears the same response.
“First, they’ll say, ‘I’d like to take that class,’ because a lot of people don’t have the knowledge and tools to help them achieve financial goals,” Hopwood explains. “The second thing I hear is, ‘That ought to be taught sooner.’ I agree.”
It’s hard to argue. Financial decisions, especially large ones such as buying a house or investing in your education, can shape the trajectory of lives and careers. That’s the way Hopwood sees it – he’s not just teaching, he’s shaping futures.
A graduate of the University’s Executive MBA (EMBA) program, Hopwood serves as Lecturer and Commercial Banking Advisory Board Faculty Fellow at Lee Business School. He’s made it his mission to teach students the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the complexities of personal and professional finance.
Hopwood knows that success in that area isn’t something that you notice overnight. It takes time to develop healthy financial habits, but he can already claim one victory in qualifying his financial literacy course as a general education course at UNLV.
A Vision for Financial Literacy
“Every student has to take a gen ed course that satisfies an analytical and critical thinking requirement,” he explains. “We got [the course] approved to meet the requirements, and we’ve gotten tremendous response and enrollments."
In the most recent semester, the financial literacy course covered 20 sections with 15 different guest instructors, including Nevada State Treasurer Zach Conine. His involvement highlights the program’s growing influence, Hopwood says, adding that the program has doubled its enrollment and is attracting students from all walks of life.
The reason why is clear, and the significance of this course cannot be overstated.
“High school students need to learn about the ins and outs of student debt,” Hopwood says, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of financial decisions made early in life.
In his view, financial health is one leg of a “tripod” that supports a healthy life, alongside physical and mental health. Through this course, students gain essential tools in budgeting, credit management, career planning, and more -- tools they will use for the rest of their lives.
Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry
In addition to financial literacy, Hopwood plays a pivotal role in connecting UNLV’s business school with the banking industry. As the Commercial Banking Advisory Board Faculty Fellow, he helps finance majors gain practical experience and insight into the world of banking.
“We’ve done a good job of getting our business school connected with the banking community to help develop future bankers,” Hopwood says.
His position at UNLV is the most recent chapter in a career that spans more than 40 years in finance, banking regulation, and business ownership. As Hopwood explains, his journey, from regulator to banker to business owner, has allowed him to offer students a holistic view of the banking world.
“In banking classes, I can provide perspective from all sides of the table,” Hopwood says. “I learn a lot from teaching, myself, and even I sometimes say, ‘I wish that I knew what I know now before I owned my own business.’”
The EMBA Advantage
Hopwood’s journey to becoming a faculty member at UNLV was shaped by his own experience in the EMBA program. Returning to graduate school in his 50s, he found the program’s structure and the professional diversity of his cohort to be invaluable.
“The EMBA fit perfectly for me, the cohort experience is just a tremendous asset of the program,” he says.
Preparing for the Future
As the banking industry changes, Hopwood is preparing his students for the changes ahead. He emphasizes the role of technology, particularly AI, in shaping the next evolution of banking.
“I tell students that the future of banking and the design of future banking projects is not gonna be done by me,” he says. “It’s gonna be invented by YOU based on what you want out of your bank.”
That’s the satisfaction that comes with teaching a subject that will impact lives far beyond college. Hopwood says he’s even had former students reach out to think him, and that’s what fuels his passion for teaching.
A favorite quote, he says, has always been, “I touch the future, I teach.”