Michael Rupured

Michael Rupured serves as Senior Public Service Associate and Extension Financial Management Specialist in the Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics at the University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer Sciences. With over 25 years of extension experience across Kentucky State University, USDA, and UGA, he specializes in translating financial research into community impact through evidence-based programming.

His educational foundation includes:

• M.S. in Family Studies, University of Kentucky (1990)
• B.S. in Family Studies, University of Kentucky (1987)

Dr. Rupured's research pioneers practical financial capability solutions for underserved populations. His work uniquely bridges academic rigor with extension outreach, developing field-tested tools like the Georgia CA$H survey system and bankruptcy recovery frameworks. Current initiatives focus on youth financial literacy, home-based business development for the working poor, and time-management integration in financial planning—all emphasizing measurable behavioral outcomes over theoretical knowledge.

His scholarly impact spans 6 major publications (2008-2012) examining financial behavior in teenagers, bankruptcy applicants, and low-income taxpayers, revealing actionable insights for program design. These studies consistently demonstrate how contextualized financial education drives tangible improvements in savings behavior, tax credit utilization, and post-bankruptcy recovery.

Recognition for his work includes:

• Mary Ellen Edmondson Educator of the Year (2011)
• Walter B. Hill Public Service Award (2009)
• Distinguished Fellow status (2003)

Through USDA-funded extension programs and leadership in professional associations, Dr. Rupured has trained hundreds of agents in financial education delivery. His Georgia VITA program evaluation established new national benchmarks for tax-assistance effectiveness, while his middle-school curriculum 'Your Money Your Future' has been adopted in 78% of Georgia counties.

Though not leading a formal laboratory, he directs statewide implementation teams across UGA Extension's 159-county network, focusing on scalable solutions for financial capability gaps. His work embodies land-grant university mission through community-engaged scholarship that transforms research into real-world economic resilience.