Economics Spotlighted Student: Andrew Tieso '24

Andrew Tieso ‘24 left Charlotte, Vermont, during his junior year of high school to become a boarder at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. Academically driven, with a strong sense of autonomy, he quickly became immersed in the tight-knit community of Hotchkiss both in the classroom and on the lacrosse field.

Andrew was determined to find a college with a student-led community that embodies a culture of trust and integrity with strong professor-student relationships where he could also compete as a collegiate-level lacrosse goalie.

Having heard of Haverford through several personal alumni connections, Andrew felt as though Haverford could be an excellent fit. During his visit, a chance encounter and wonderful conversation with Professor Neal Grabell, who would later become one of his teachers, demonstrated the quality and approachability of Haverford’s faculty, cementing Andrew’s decision to apply Early Decision.

During his first semester of college in the Fall of 2020, Andrew took Introduction to Economics with Professor David Owens, which piqued his interest. This class, set against the backdrop of the then-active COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrated the profound impact of global events on economies. He quickly developed a specific interest in the economy's financial markets, subsequently focusing his classes on those interests by taking Financial Economics and Money and Banking.

As an economics major interested in finance and seeking more technical experience, Andrew, during his sophomore year, interned at National Life Group in Montpelier, Vermont, as a financial data analytics summer and winter analyst. During his internships, he assisted in developing and optimizing financial projection models and internal dashboards, gaining valuable technical experience in Excel, Power BI, and Alteryx.

This past summer, Andrew interned at Cantor Fitzgerald as an Investment Banking summer analyst on their Healthcare team, where his primary responsibilities were preparing client presentations, conducting company due diligence, and performing industry research. After graduation, he will rejoin Cantor Fitzgerald full-time in NYC as an Investment Banking Analyst on their Healthcare team. Congratulations Andrew!

Andrew's thesis examines the resilience of the US healthcare industry's mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market during economic downturns marked by credit market contraction, cash flow uncertainty, and regulatory tightening. Through a detailed examination of the three 21st-century recessions and their distinct impacts on US M&A activity, his research highlights the unique counter-cyclical robustness and inelastic demand within healthcare. His analysis focuses on four healthcare subsectors—Health Services and Providers, Medical Equipment and Supplies, Biotechnology, and Pharmaceuticals—offering insights into the varying degrees of each respective subsector's performances and strategic adaptations during periods of economic uncertainty.

Since 5th grade, lacrosse has played a significant role in Andrew’s life.  Not only is he a goalie on the men’s team at Haverford, but he also volunteers as a coach and tutor for Harlem Lacrosse, a nationwide non-profit organization that helps underprivileged 5th – 12th-grade students through academic mentorship and lacrosse coaching.

Off the field and out of the classroom, Andrew is also a Co-head of the Haverford College Business Initiative, where he assists junior members in presenting and evaluating stock pitches, building a core understanding of finance, and securing internship opportunities. In his free time, Andrew enjoys hiking, golfing, and carpentry.

After graduation, Andrew plans to spend time traveling with his family and friends before starting his job at Cantor Fitzgerald.