Jason Satchell is proof that you don’t have to live in New York or Chicago to enjoy an exciting career in finance. For nearly a decade, he worked at Waddell & Reed in Overland Park, Kansas, a large asset management company that made several major plays in private equity, including a $1.6 billion investment in Formula One racing.

Satchell enjoyed his time working at the company, which grew to become one of the 25 largest mutual fund providers in the country with more than $135 billion under management. But by 2015, he was ready to explore other interests.

“I had done some substitute teaching when I was in college, and I really enjoyed it,” said Satchell, who starting thinking about a second career in academia. So, for the next five years, the father of five continued to work at Ivy Investments, a Waddell & Reed subsidiary, while completing a doctorate in business administration at Creighton University.

In 2019, he made the leap, leaving his job as head of portfolio construction and strategy to teach finance at Northwest Missouri State University. He loved teaching in a small school where he could have a big impact on the students passing through his class. But he didn’t like the two-hour commute. After six years of leaving home at 3 am to teach courses on campus, he began a job search that led him to Gies College of Business — and a program that was different from anything he’d experienced.

“I was really impressed with the academies that Gies has for students, whether that’s the AXIS Risk Management Academy, the Investment Banking Academy, or the Investment Management Academy,” said Satchell, who was equally impressed by the faculty leading them. “When you see the background of the people who are teaching in those academies and pushing that forward, that’s a strong selling point to me because I love watching students grasp a concept and say, ‘OK, now I get it!’ So, to be able to collaborate with others who are like that was very exciting to me.”

Satchell was also excited by the many resources available to Gies Business faculty, including the new Steven S. Wymer Hall, which opened in Fall 2025, just in time for his arrival on campus. While Gies has long been a leader in online instruction, the new facility will take things to the next level, providing advanced studios and soundstages where experts in video and audio production can craft immersive learning experiences.

“We can give the student an incredible overall experience because Gies Business has lots of experts and professionals putting everything into their education instead of one person trying to piece it together.”

Satchell, who will be teaching FIN 221: Corporate Finance, says the biggest thing he brings to the classroom is an ability to relate to students. “I don’t look like your typical finance professor,” said Satchell, who enjoys lifting weights and describes himself as a finance meathead.

“I’m 6’ 3” and 240 pounds, and I’m tattooed everywhere. But I think that’s one of the things that’s helped me as a teacher. When you can connect with students, they’re much more likely to consume the information you’re providing them.”

That’s important to Satchell, who says his personal teaching style was heavily influenced by two professors he remembers — for very different reasons. One was a psychology teacher whose energy and passion for the subject inspired Satchell to specialize in behavioral finance. And the other was professor who began his course by telling students that a third of them would fail.

“I don’t want to be that guy that scares you away from an education,” said Satchell, who is hard-wired to help students succeed. “I’m not here to push my thumb down and say you can’t pass. I’m here because I want you to move forward. I want you to get better. I want you to understand. And I’ll work with you. Whether you need extra time, or extra help, I’m here. I’m available. And I will give you everything I have.”