This story is one in a series spotlighting nine exceptional faculty members who were recognized with 2024–25 Outstanding Faculty Awards, selected by the University’s Faculty Recognition and Support Committee.
These awards—among the highest honors at Chico State—celebrate faculty excellence in the categories of Outstanding Professor, Teacher, Academic Advisor, Faculty Leader, Research Mentor, Faculty Service, Lecturer, Lecturer in Bringing the Profession to the Classroom, and Early Career Faculty.
Outstanding Lecturer in Bringing the Profession to the Classroom
From A shares to zombie debt, lecturer Jaycob Arbogast seamlessly integrates professional financial practices into academic learning for business and non-business students alike.
A certified financial planner (CFP), Arbogast has spearheaded initiatives that transcend traditional class instruction. He developed the campus-based and online Financial Planning Certificate program, adding seven new courses that elevate Chico State’s finance curriculum to meet real-world industry standards.
His success in securing certification from the CFP Board means students can complete their educational requirements to sit for the CFP exam without needing to pay for outside coursework—positioning the University as a serious contender in financial education.
Arbogast’s impact stretches beyond the classroom. As the driving force behind the Financial Wellness Clinic—one of the first of its kind on the West Coast—he leads a team of student employees who provide free financial literacy services to over 300 students each year. Through collaborations with programs like First-Year Experience, the REACH Student Success Center, and the Chico State Basic Needs Project, the clinic helps students master personal finance topics such as budgeting and debt management.
His mentorship extends to several student organizations, including the Financial Planning Club, Investors Club, Venture Capital Club, and the student-managed investment fund, Chico Creek Capital. Arbogast regularly takes students to national competitions in major financial centers, including New York and San Francisco, giving them a front-row seat to the fast-paced world of finance.
Equally impressive is his fundraising and grant-writing acumen. He’s secured over $100,000 from prestigious sources like the CSU Chancellor’s Office and the Foundation for Financial Planning. These funds support student employment, the upgraded FinTech Lab, and professional licensing scholarships.
Whether he’s teaching undergraduate or graduate courses, leading workshops, or creating new pathways for certification, Arbogast exemplifies the bridge between academic excellence and industry relevance. With stellar student evaluations and a relentless commitment to innovation, Arbogast is shaping the future of financial education—one student at a time.
Arbogast holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a minor in mathematics, and an MBA from Chico State. He has worked at the University in several capacities since 2017 and has served as director of the Center for Excellence in Finance since 2021.
What do you love about teaching at Chico State?
My favorite thing to do with students is to dream about the future they’ll have and help them get started on that journey.
What has been your most memorable experience with students?
One of the most memorable was taking students to the QGAME conference in New York, which offered networking with student-managed investment fund organizations from other universities. That trip highlighted the incredible potential of our students for me. We’ve been building the student-managed fund for a few years, and leading this has been inspiring to me.
What do you hope students take away from your classroom?
Regardless of where they are now, I hope students can learn to avoid ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ and to focus on their own goals and not some inflated lifestyle they see on social media. Start saving early, live within your means, and set realistic goals for yourself, and you’ll be just fine in life.
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