President and Chief Executive Officer
Denver, CO
Billy J. Hensley, Ph.D., has been president and CEO of the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) since 2018. During his tenure, he has led NEFE to develop and fulfill its first formally detailed strategic plan; refine its mission, vision and core values; and foster increased transparency and stewardship. Hensley’s vision for the organization focuses on Redefining Financial Education through targeted philanthropy, research and collaboration. Notably, NEFE introduced the Personal Finance Ecosystem, a well-being model aimed at enhancing accountability in the financial capability field.
Under Hensley’s leadership, NEFE’s research has significantly influenced the national discourse on financial education, with one study ranking among the top 5% of the Social Science Research Index. In recognition of NEFE’s commitment to best practices, ethical conduct, inclusivity and rigorous certification, the organization received the “Setting the Standard” Award from the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education in 2021. In 2022, Bankrate.com recognized NEFE as the best financial nonprofit, adding to its social honors and awards. In 2025, Hensley received the prestigious William E. Odom Visionary Leadership Award from the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, celebrating exceptional individuals whose leadership and contributions significantly advance financial education.
Key achievements under Hensley’s direction include expanding national consumer polling and research outputs, launching a policy and advocacy team focused on increasing access to financial education for all K-12 students, hosting national policy convenings, significantly growing social media engagement, broadening the reach of the Financial Education Evaluation Toolkit, being featured in an international documentary on women and money, and expanding philanthropic reach and increased funding to recognize research excellence as well as support for organizations providing direct financial well-being services. In 2022, on its 30th anniversary, NEFE hosted its inaugural Financial Education Innovation & Impact (FEI&I) Summit and announced a $2 million commitment to strategic partnerships to inform best practices in the delivery of financial education. The FEI&I Summit is held every other year.
Before becoming CEO, Hensley directed NEFE’s grants, research, and consumer and collegiate educational initiatives, with programs engaging over one million learners annually. His efforts also transformed NEFE’s grant-making strategies. As of 2025, NEFE has provided nearly $7 million in research grant funding—doubling the investment in just the last five years—and has increased its peer-reviewed research citations by 345%, totaling over 1,600 to date, since he was hired as its first full-time researcher in 2010.
Hensley is frequently cited in the media, including CNBC, the New York Times, the Atlantic, MarketWatch, National Public Radio, the Associated Press and Forbes, among others. He holds positions on multiple national and regional boards, including Jump$tart, where he is actively involved in the Jump$tart Financial Inclusion Advisory Panel advocating for K-12 access and inclusion. In 2019, Hensley joined the CNBC Global Financial Wellness Advisory Board, a select group of financial experts and thought leaders. He also contributes to the editorial board of the Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning. In 2021, Hensley was appointed to the board of trustees of his alma mater Union Commonwealth University (UCU) (Ky.). In 2025, Hensley was named to UCU’s inaugural 50 Under 50 Alumni Program, “recognizing outstanding alumni who exemplify the mission and values of UCU, making a significant impact in their careers, communities and beyond.”
Hensley’s academic background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati, where he earned the title of Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year in educational studies. He also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from UCU. His research has been presented at various state, national and international conferences and published in numerous journals.