- working at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
- a rugby player.
- an economics degree holder.
- thankful for the help of my Willamette professors.
Colin Gardiner works for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
Colin’s coursework led to an interest in economics.
Outside of class, Colin played on the rugby club team.
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IAM
A Budding Economist
Mentoring from professors helped Colin Gardiner ’09 find his current career.
Colin Gardiner '09 was unsure of his future path when he came to Willamette — he didn't know what he wanted to study, and wasn't even convinced that college was right for him.
But a series of supportive professors showed him he had a passion for economics.
They helped him find internships to support his new goal, including a summer position at the Institute of Social and Economic Research in Alaska.
Today Gardiner works as a research associate for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, where he helps senior economists research issues relating to labor and climate change.
"My personal relationships with my professors really helped me," he says. "They taught me the skills I needed to get my current job, and pushed me to apply for this and other opportunities. They gave me the courage to move forward, and that was really valuable."
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