Major: Economics
Graduation year: 2022
Who is your employer, and where are they located?
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City - Missouri
What is your job title and what kind of work does it involve?
As a Research Associate, my role will primarily involve supporting two economists in their research. I will also be involved in policy work for the Federal Reserve, which may include analyzing economic data and providing research support to other members of the team.
What sparked your interest in your major?
My interest in economics sparked when I watched a video about environmental economics on youtube one day and it was very interesting to me because of the fact that economics is very applicable in everyday life. I am a curious person that like working with numbers, that's why I majored in economics.
What do you see as the value of your major?
I believe CAS degree helped me to become a well-rounded person. I liked that I had many elective hours left after completing my major requirements. Each semester, I took one physical education class along with an interesting class outside of my major. Additionally, I used some of my elective hours to focus on my major by taking independent study and honors thesis courses. These experiences allowed me to dive deeper into economics research and gain valuable skills in data analysis.
Were there any other people, activities, or events from your time at UNL that helped you get to where you are now?
I would like to thank all my economics professors who mentored me throughout my time at UNL. Especially, my thesis advisors Dr. Daniel Tannenbaum and Dr. Brenden Timpe taught me a lot about economics research and supported me with job applications even after graduation. I am very glad I did a thesis on STEM OPT and how it affects international students in economics. It was a topic that I deeply cared about. Every person I interviewed with at the Fed asked me about my thesis project.
Tell us about the path you took to get to where you are today in your career and how you applied your education to get here.
I worked as a research scholar in the economics department and learned so much from my peers and mentors. I often went to the economics seminars that my department held even though I was the only undergraduate in the room. Putting myself in those kind of situations really helped me to grow as a student.
What are your future professional goals?
I am considering grad school after I complete my RA period at the Fed. Ultimately, I would like to work at a place where I can use my analytical skills to answer interesting questions.
