aerial view of Western's campus at night facing northwest, with golden lights surrounded by dark trees

WWU’s Center for Economic and Financial Education to Host 2026 Washington Economics Symposium on July 28

Western Washington University will co-host the third annual Washington Economics Symposium on Tuesday, July 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the University of Washington’s Bothell campus.  

Speaker sessions dive into the forces shaping Washington’s economy, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), affordability and financial resilience. Tailored tracks and interactive sessions give attendees practical tools and actionable strategies to navigate today’s rapidly changing financial landscape and prepare Washington’s students for the future economy.

“As we navigate a rapidly evolving economy, financial and economic education has never been more vital. The convergence of AI advances, ongoing housing affordability challenges, and shifting labor markets highlight the critical need for financial resilience and adaptability,” said WWU Associate Professor of Economics Adam Wright, co-organizer of the symposium. “The Washington Economics Symposium brings together educators, industry leaders, and policymakers to tackle these pressing issues, from the future of work to supporting vulnerable populations, and provides hands-on workshops with the instructional resources needed to prepare our next generation for an AI-integrated world.”

This year’s speakers include Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, City of Seattle AI Officer Lisa Qian, and more AI experts, CEOs and economists.

There are two speaker tracks, outlined below. Registration also includes breakfast, lunch, and a networking reception. All registration fees go to support financial and economic education in Washington state.

  • K-12 educators in the teacher track will focus on debt management, credit issues, financial scam resilience, unemployment, inflation, and life after high school. Teachers will receive 6.5 clock hours (4 STEM and 2.5 general).
  • The business and policy track focuses on issues related to AI governance, AI Task Force recommendations, in-demand skills and the future of work, AI economic and labor effects, and housing affordability.

Hosted by Western Washington University, the Washington Council for Economic and Financial Education, and the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, this one-day event will explore the impact of economics and personal finance education on Washington's economy.