What was your favorite class and how has it influenced your further course of study?
My favorite class at Haverford has been advanced microeconomics - the economics of uncertainty. The course delves deeply into understanding what governs the behavior of economic agents who must make decisions under uncertain outcomes. Since managing and calculating risk accurately is essential for the financial system to run efficiently, the course helps explore some of the most pressing questions in financial economics.
Why did you choose your major/minor/concentration? What influenced you to pursue this course of study?
Ever since the financial meltdown in 2008 I wanted to better understand what happened and how it could have been prevented. The combination of mathematics and economics allows us to better understand the behavior of financial institutions and the interactions between those institutions and the rest of the economy.
Did you have a summer experience (research, internship, travel) that was connected to your classwork or thesis project? If so, how did that experience change what you thought about your course of study or influence your plans for the future?
This past summer I was intern at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where I worked with market risk specialists and bank examiners to model the risks that large financial institutions face. I hope to continue working closely with banks and regulators to promote a healthy financial system.
What surprised you most about your course of study or what would others be most surprised by about your course of study?
What surprised me the most about studying economics is to what extent financial intermediation plays a role in our economy. Everything from buying a house, to going to college, to creating jobs, is inextricably linked with access to credit, interest rates, and the banking sector. It is impossible to participate in the economy without being connected to financial intermediaries in one way or another.
What do you hope to do after graduating from Haverford?
I recently accepted a position with the market risk team at the Federal Reserve in New York, where I hope to learn more about the financial system and banking for the next few years!