Think beyond

SEC Staff Accountant
New York City

Q: You’ve been a Drew alumna for several years now. How are you keeping busy?
A: I work as a staff accountant for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations. My job is to make sure registered investment advisers and investment companies are following federal securities laws.

Q: And what exactly does that mean?
A: Basically, I’m on the front lines of the fight to protect investors. My oversight keeps advisers and companies honest, and that translates to fewer pitfalls for innocent people. It’s incredibly rewarding. I actually landed the job through Drew’s Career Center. I graduated with amazing experiences at home and abroad, a strong economics education—and a job!

Q: Protecting investors in the current economic climate sounds challenging.
A: You bet it is. I primarily address this challenge by keeping myself aware of the day-to-day global financial situation. I also monitor the market’s financial instruments pretty closely. In my line of work, knowledge really is power.

Q: Do you wake up every morning excited about going to work?
A: I love my job. I love the work and the people who do it alongside me. Some of my colleagues are extremely important in the financial services world, and I’m proud to have them be part of my rolodex. Yeah, I definitely get excited about work when I wake up in the morning.

Q: Tell me about your experiences as a student of economics at Drew.
A: I discovered economics as a first-year student. Math and business had both always interested me, so I settled on econ. because it incorporates elements of the two. If I had to single out a few defining experiences, I think they would be my semester abroad in Brussels, Belgium, and the semester on Wall Street.

Q: Brussels, huh? That sounds interesting.
A: It was. Spending time in a non-English speaking country was definitely a culture shock, but it was one that I needed, I think. Being there allowed me to learn about the European economy in a bustling European city—what a marvelous experience!

Q: And you also spent time on Wall Street as an undergraduate?
A: Yes, Drew offers an off-campus program that brings students into New York City’s financial district two days a week to learn about the American economy. I got to hear guest lectures by Wall Street heavy-hitters and really experience the culture of the financial world.

Q: Sounds like the program gave you a glimpse into your future. Knowing what you know now, do you think it was a meaningful preview?
A: Absolutely. Having the opportunity to experience the Wall Street culture as a student gave me a pretty accurate idea of what to expect when I returned as a professional.

Q: Have any advice for an aspiring economics student at Drew?
A: Broaden your horizons by studying abroad!