People

J. Michael Collins

Faculty Director

Email: jmcollins@wisc.edu
Office: 360 Middleton Building

Department of Consumer Science
School of Human Ecology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Middleton Building
1305 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706

J. Michael Collins is faculty director of the Center for Financial Security at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He teaches personal finance and is a faculty affiliate of the Institute for Research on Poverty, the La Follette School of Public Affairs and Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. Collins studies consumer decision-making in the financial marketplace, including the role of public policy in influencing credit, savings and investment choices. His work includes the study of financial literacy and counseling with a focus on low-income families. He is co-PI of the Social Security Administration Financial Literacy Research Consortium site at Wisconsin, a multi-disciplinary project focused on financial literacy for vulnerable populations. Collins brings nearly a decade of applied experience to his research. He founded PolicyLab Consulting Group, a research consulting firm working with national foundations, and co-founded MortgageKeeper Referral Services, an online database for mortgage servicers and counselors. He also worked for NeighborWorks America (Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation) and the Millennial Housing Commission. He holds a Masters from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, a PhD from Cornell University, and a BS from Miami University (OH).