CFP Board Names Mary Kay Svedberg, Ph.D. Director of Education

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) announced today that it has named Mary Kay Svedberg, Ph.D., as Director of Education, a role in which she will oversee and direct the program that facilitates completion of the education requirement for CERTIFIED FINANICAL PLANNER™ certification.

As Director of Education, Svedberg will work with CFP Board-Registered Program directors, faculty, administrators and students at U.S. educational institutions to ensure their programs – including curriculum, instruction and learner assessment – uphold CFP Board’s education standards. She will also guide the review process for prospective programs, and oversee CFP Board’s Registered Programs Conference, which offers financial planning faculty and program directors an annual forum for sharing best practices and key research.

“With extensive experience as an academician and program developer, Mary Kay will be key to expanding our academic programs.  She has a natural talent for building and strengthening relationships with educators and students,” said John Loper, CFP®, CFP Board’s Managing Director of Professional Practice. “Her expertise will be an asset as we partner with our registered providers who are preparing students to be competent CFP® professionals.”

Graduates of CFP Board-Registered Programs satisfy the education coursework requirement for CFP® certification and are eligible to take the CFP® Certification Examination. There are currently over 300 programs at 170 college or university-level institutions offering a financial planning curriculum registered with CFP Board.

Svedberg has over twenty years of experience in higher education from faculty to administrator. Her passion for education and lifelong learning commenced when she completed her doctoral studies in adult learning and human resource development and focused her thesis on Self-Directed Learning and Persistence in Online Asynchronous Undergraduate Programs. Since then, she has successfully designed, implemented and evaluated courses, curricula and support services to promote academic excellence and boost student retention.  Her positions and experiences as Academic Dean, Professor and Campus President position her well as Director of Education for CFP Board.