Who is Michael Yates from Jeopardy? Meet the Award-Winning University of Tennessee Finance Professor

Dr. Michael C. Yates is an award-winning finance professor, educator, and academic based in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he serves as a Teaching Professor and Clinical Associate Professor of Finance at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Recognized for his dynamic classroom style and deep expertise in finance, Yates has spent nearly two decades educating undergraduate and graduate students while building a reputation as one of the university’s most respected instructors.

His appearance on Jeopardy! introduces a contestant whose career has been devoted to higher education, research, and helping students understand the complexities of financial markets. Representing the University of Tennessee on the episode airing Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Yates brings years of academic experience and an extensive knowledge base to one of television’s most challenging quiz shows.

Throughout his career, Yates has combined academic rigor with an engaging teaching style, earning praise from students and colleagues alike. His success in the classroom has been matched by contributions to finance research, curriculum development, and graduate education.

Teaching Finance at the University of Tennessee

Since joining the University of Tennessee in August 2020, Yates has served as a Teaching Professor and Clinical Associate Professor of Finance within the Haslam College of Business.

His teaching responsibilities cover a wide range of undergraduate and graduate finance subjects, including investments, financial valuation, portfolio management, and other core areas of business education. These courses prepare students for careers in investment banking, financial analysis, wealth management, corporate finance, and related industries.

Yates is widely recognized for creating an engaging classroom environment that encourages students to think critically rather than simply memorize concepts. His lectures often blend real-world financial examples with academic theory, helping students understand how classroom lessons apply to financial markets and business decision-making.

As an educator, he has become known for challenging students to participate actively in discussions while maintaining high academic expectations.

A Teaching Style That Challenges Students

Among University of Tennessee students, Yates has developed a reputation as one of the most energetic, charismatic, and memorable professors in the business school.

His classes are intentionally demanding. Students frequently encounter cold-calling during lectures, requiring them to remain prepared and actively engaged throughout each class session. In addition, Yates regularly incorporates unannounced pop quizzes into his courses, with these assessments accounting for approximately 15 percent of the final course grade.

The majority of students’ grades are determined through examinations, which typically represent around 80 percent of the overall assessment. This structure encourages consistent preparation and a thorough understanding of finance concepts rather than relying on smaller assignments or participation alone.

Despite the rigorous expectations, students consistently praise Yates for his accessibility and willingness to help. He is known for maintaining generous office hours, answering questions thoughtfully, and supporting students who demonstrate a genuine commitment to learning. Many describe him as demanding but fair, combining academic discipline with a genuine interest in student success.

An Award-Winning Educator

Yates’s excellence in teaching has been recognized through numerous awards throughout his academic career.

Among his most notable honors are the Home Federal Excellence in Teaching Award, which he received in both 2022 and 2023 at the University of Tennessee. Receiving the award in consecutive years highlights the consistently high regard in which he is held by both students and faculty.

He has also been selected multiple times as a finalist for the prestigious Allen H. Keally Excellence in Teaching Award, another recognition of his contributions to classroom instruction and student learning.

Even during his doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin, Yates distinguished himself as an educator, earning additional teaching honors while serving as an Assistant Instructor.

These awards reflect a career-long commitment to effective teaching and educational excellence.

A Career Spanning Three Major Universities

Before arriving at the University of Tennessee, Yates spent eight years at Georgia State University, where he served as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance from 2012 until 2020.

During his time there, he also served as Faculty Director of the Master of Science in Finance program, overseeing graduate education while helping shape curriculum and mentor future finance professionals.

Earlier in his career, Yates was an Assistant Professor of Finance at Auburn University, serving from 2007 to 2011. There he continued developing his expertise in finance instruction and research while teaching undergraduate and graduate business students.

His academic career began during his doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked as an Assistant Instructor while completing his graduate education. Teaching while pursuing his doctorate provided valuable classroom experience that laid the foundation for his later success as an award-winning educator.

Across nearly two decades, Yates has built experience teaching students at every level, from introductory undergraduate courses to advanced graduate finance programs.

Research Interests and Academic Contributions

In addition to teaching, Yates maintains an active research portfolio focused on several areas within finance and economics.

His research interests include market behavior, labor structures, investments, finance education, and broader questions surrounding financial markets and economic decision-making.

His scholarly work has appeared in respected academic publications, including the American Economic Review, one of the world’s leading economics journals, and the International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, where he has contributed research focused on improving higher education.

Some of Yates’s research has also attracted mainstream media attention because of its broader implications for understanding markets and economic behavior. This wider recognition demonstrates the practical relevance of his work beyond academic audiences.

By combining research with classroom teaching, Yates ensures that his students benefit from current scholarship while learning concepts grounded in real-world financial practice.

Helping Students Prepare for Careers in Finance

Throughout his career, Yates has emphasized practical applications of finance alongside academic theory.

His courses frequently examine investment strategies, valuation techniques, portfolio construction, financial markets, and corporate decision-making. These subjects provide students with the analytical skills required for careers across the financial services industry.

Former students often describe his classes as challenging but rewarding, noting that the high expectations ultimately prepare them well for professional careers and industry certification exams.

Yates’s combination of academic knowledge and practical instruction has made him one of the most respected finance educators within the Haslam College of Business.

Representing the University of Tennessee on Jeopardy!

In 2026, Yates added another achievement to his distinguished career when he was announced as a contestant on Jeopardy!.

Representing the University of Tennessee on the episode airing Tuesday, July 7, 2026, he joins a long tradition of professors, researchers, and academics who have competed on the iconic quiz show.

Given his years of teaching, research, and broad academic interests, Yates brings an impressive depth of knowledge to the competition. His professional career requires mastery of economics, finance, mathematics, business, history, and current events—all subjects that frequently appear in Jeopardy! clues.

For students and colleagues alike, his appearance on the program highlights the intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning that have defined his career.

Continuing a Career Dedicated to Education

Nearly twenty years into his academic career, Dr. Michael C. Yates continues to focus on helping students develop analytical thinking, financial literacy, and professional confidence.

His combination of award-winning teaching, respected research, and extensive experience across multiple universities has established him as a highly regarded educator within finance education.

Whether leading discussions on investment theory, mentoring graduate students, publishing scholarly research, or competing on Jeopardy!, Yates demonstrates the same enthusiasm for learning that has earned him recognition throughout higher education.

Dr. Michael C. Yates Quick Facts