Not one major, not two, not three, but four majors for East Tennessee State University student Timothy Preshong: finance, accounting, economics and Spanish. Together, these four disciplines form a practical toolkit that Preshong plans to use as a future financial adviser, blending technical skills, economic insight and cultural fluency.

Torn between finance and accounting before entering college, Preshong decided he might as well do both. From there, he realized economics offered the theory he needed to understand the market as a whole and complemented the finance side. And because that still wasn’t enough, he added Spanish, something he genuinely enjoyed and a skill he knew could open the door to a whole new world of potential clients when he begins his career as a financial adviser.

“I love learning how to use money and influence the economy for the better,” said Preshong. “It’s awesome that you’re actually helping people invest their money, get their retirement all laid out and learn how to leverage that money for the good of many people.”

For Preshong, that means helping everyday people, from young professionals to retirees, make confident, informed decisions about their financial futures.  

Growing up in Johnson City and spending years around campus, Preshong saw early on how ETSU prepares students to serve their communities, an approach reinforced through scholarships and hands-on opportunities. And once he finally became a student at the place around which he had spent so much time, his desire to positively impact others and the community only grew stronger.  

“We have not only ETSU involved with the community, but the students here are pretty tight, with so many campus clubs to join and opportunities to give back,” Preshong added enthusiastically. “I really love the vibe here, the opportunity for growth, and the accessibility with everything.”

Connecting outside the classroom and learning everything he can inside it, it's all part of the same journey for Preshong.  

In courses like “Organizational Behavior and Management” with Professor of Practice Ken Misterly, he learned how to self‑monitor and adapt to different environments. Beyond the classroom, he’s taken on roles in the American Marketing Association’s ETSU chapter, the Students of Finance Association, the Economics Club, Young Professionals on Campus, and many more organizations.

For Timothy Preshong, those hands-on experiences — from leadership roles to applied coursework — are already shaping how he plans to serve clients and communities after graduation.