Donald Ross

Dr. Bruce Ross, Ph.D., AFC®, CFT™, serves as an Associate Professor in the Family Sciences Department for the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky. He also serves as the Program Director for the Family Financial Counseling (FFC) undergraduate major program and as the Program Director for the Family Financial Therapy Graduate Certificate. He is an Accredited Financial Counselor® and a Certified Financial Therapist™.

Dr. Ross completed his undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University earning a double major in Psychology with Research and Philosophy. He continued his education path at the University of Maryland where he earned a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy. He went on to the University of Georgia to earn a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and a specialization in financial counseling and financial therapy practices.

Dr. Ross' professional and research interests primarily focus on personal and family financial well-being. His interests center around the systemic practice of financial therapy to better serve families from a holistic perspective. Emphasis areas include analyzing relationship dynamics around money from three primary perspectives: a) inter- and intra-personal family dynamics associated with resilience to financial strain, b) best practices in financial counseling and financial therapy, and c) intergenerational patterns of family financial socialization. These interests are considered across a multitude of diverse populations and contextual issues.

Dr. Ross continues to serve on the Board for the Financial Therapy Association (FTA), where he has served extensively in a number of positions since 2013. He has served as the 2020 President, Treasurer, Secretary, Certification and Education Chair, Conference Chair and Co-Chair, Conference Review Chair, Business Development Chair, Social and Media Chair, and Student Board Member. Dr. Ross has a deep commitment to the discipline of financial therapy, a process informed by both therapeutic and financial competencies that helps people think, feel, communicate, and behave differently with money to improve overall well-being.

Dr. Ross also serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Financial Therapy and the Journal of Personal Finance, as well as an ad hoc reviewer for Family Relations, Contemporary Family Therapy, Financial Services Review, and Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning. He is also a co-host of the podcast, Modern Husbands, which provides advice for couples and families on developing better money management and more equitable relationships.

Personally, Dr. Ross grew up originally in Northern Kentucky and the greater Cincinnati area, and is very excited to be back in his home state. He enjoys the great outdoors and loves to hike, camp, sail, scuba-dive, ski, and woodworking. His go-to stress relief is cooking, spending time with his partner, and playing with his dogs, Lulu and Ellie.

He is thrilled to work with such talented colleagues and students at the University of Kentucky!