OXFORD, Miss. – Visitors to the University of Mississippi’s Analytics and Trading Lab might think they have stepped into an alcove of a working trading floor, where analysts track markets in real time, debate investment calls and manage actual money.
The lab is home to two ambitious ventures, the future Center for Financial Futures and the Rebel Student Investment Fund. Together, they offer an integrated environment where Ole Miss students learn by doing.
This hands-on philosophy shapes everything the lab does. For students across the university, it offers a starting point for financial literacy: practical guidance on budgeting, managing debt, saving and investing. For finance and business majors, the lab provides experiential learning that bridges the gap between classroom theory and the realities of the financial industry.
“Practical experience forms the basis of excellent student education in the AI age,” said Rich Gentry, dean of the School of Business Administration. “The student mentoring, engagement and interaction housed at the center and embodied by the lab will help connect our students’ classroom learning to their chosen professions.
“It will help them stand out in interviews and in their career. We are so grateful for the support of our alumni and donors for its construction and their continued support in its operation.”
At the center of it all is the Rebel Student Investment Fund. Here, students do not simply run simulations or paper-trade with pretend money. Instead, they analyze real markets, make real investment decisions and manage a real portfolio.
“The Analytics and Trading Lab strengthened my research, analysis and presentation skills,” said Justin Hailey, a senior finance major from Wesson. “Through the Rebel Student Investment Group, I developed and pitched investment ideas with confidence.
“That experience translated directly to my FedEx internship, where I presented project recommendations to managers and senior leaders.”
The lab prepares students for financial responsibilities that come with their first careers, support that eases financial stress, strengthens retention and sets graduates up for stronger long-term outcomes.
“The Analytics and Trading Lab was developed as an integrated hub, giving students a dedicated space to apply classroom theory to real market analysis and portfolio management,” said Fred Dewald, instructional assistant professor of finance and the lab’s director. “Students can gain hands-on experience researching markets, making investment decisions and managing an actual student-run fund.
“I’m genuinely excited about the lab because it turns learning into practical, high-impact work that builds confidence, reduces post-graduation financial stress and directly prepares students for the analytical and decision-making demands of real finance careers.”
Donors have provided financial support that helps keep the lab’s trading technology current, fund the expansion of its programming and keep capital flowing into the Rebel Student Investment Fund. Contributors to the lab include the Hereford Family Foundation, Chuck Doty, Kevin Woods, the Phillips family, Kevin Vogel and Alex Lawhorn.
As the lab continues to grow, so does its impact, turning classroom theory into career-ready confidence for the next generation of Ole Miss finance students.
“As I prepare to return to FedEx in a full-time role after graduation, I’ll continue to use the analytical thinking, communication and decision-making skills I developed in the lab,” said Hailey, who recently accepted a permanent position with the company following graduation.
“Having the opportunity to work through real investment decisions at Ole Miss has given me confidence that I can carry into the next stage of my career.”
Top: The Analytics and Trading Lab at the School of Business Administration provides a space for students to track markets, debate investment calls and manage real money. It also serves as home to two of the school’s experiential learning initiatives: the future Center for Financial Futures and the Rebel Student Investment Fund. Photo by Stella Connell/School of Business Administration
Source: olemiss.edu
