Michael Thomas

University of Georgia

Dr. Michael G. Thomas Jr. is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics at the University of Georgia, where he teaches courses in personal finance, wealth management, and blockchain technology. His work focuses on helping individuals and communities better understand the emotional, relational, and systemic factors that shape financial behavior.
 
Dr. Thomas is the author of Black Financial Culture: Building Wealth from the Inside Out, a book that explores money through the lenses of empathy, healing, self-compassion, and legacy. He is also a speaker, educator, and advocate for more human-centered conversations about money.
 
Through his teaching, writing, and public scholarship, Dr. Thomas challenges audiences to move beyond shame-based financial narratives and toward a more compassionate understanding of financial well-being. His work invites people to see that money is never just about numbers. It is also about identity, relationships, systems, and hope.