Derek Lawson
Assistant Professor
Undergraduate Program Director
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Contact Information
343J Justin Hall
drlawson@k-state.edu
Courses I Teach
- PFP 305 - Advanced Personal Financial Planning
- PFP 468 - Professional Practice Management in Personal Financial Planning
- PFP 482 - Personal Investment Concepts II
- PFP 579 - Pre-Internship Orientation in Personal Financial Planning
- PFP 595 - Capstone in Personal Financial Planning
- PFP 772 - Personal Income Taxation
- PFP 808 - Research Application in Personal Financial Planning
- PFP 956 - Clinical Research and Applications in Financial Counseling and Planning
Education
- Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning, Kansas State University
- M.S. in Family Studies and Human Services with an emphasis in Personal Financial Planning, Kansas State University
- B.B.A. in Finance, University of Iowa
Biography
Derek Lawson, Ph.D., CFP®, is a Professor of Practice and the Undergraduate Program Director of Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. In this role, he actively fosters strong connections between students and industry firms, bridging academic preparation with practical experience. As a Partner at Priority Financial Partners in Durango, CO, Dr. Lawson integrates his industry insights into the program, enhancing student learning with real-world perspectives and preparing them for successful careers in financial planning. Dr. Lawson is known for his practitioner-focused approach, blending his extensive experience as a financial planner with hands-on engagement to equip students with relevant, applicable skills. In 2018, his contribution to the field was recognized by the Journal of Financial Planning and the Financial Planning Association, awarding his article, "Integrating behavioral finance, financial psychology, and financial therapy theory and techniques into the financial planning process," with the prestigious Montgomery-Warschauer award.
When not at the university or helping clients with their finances, Derek enjoys playing ice hockey and being outdoors with his wife, Ashley, their two daughters, Raelee and Ridley (R-Squared), and their two dogs.