Department of Economics
Economics Alumni Spotlight
Emily (Bowers) Fry, Class of 2015
“I really appreciated the tight-knit feel of the Economics department at Fresno State.”
1. What is your current position and how did you get there?
I am currently the Head of Trading Operations & Oversight at Welton Investment Partners. After graduating from Fresno State, I went to UC Santa Cruz for an MS in Applied Economics and Finance, then joined Welton as a Trading Analyst right out of my Master's program. From there, I worked my way up on the trading desk to my current role.
2. How has your econ background helped you in your career?
Economics is everywhere in finance and especially in investing. We have daily conversations centered on both micro- and macroeconomic themes, including central bank rate decisions and their impact on markets such as treasuries, equities, and currencies; commodity supply issues stemming from adverse weather; and the impact of tariffs on commodities.
3. If you could go back, is there anything you would do differenlty during your time in college?
I would have tried to get more involved earlier. I joined the Economics student association at the very end of my time at Fresno State, so I didn't get the full experience. I think I would have benefitted from being involved and having an opportunity to make deeper connections with my fellow students.
4. What advice do you have for current students?
If you can find an internship, try to do it, even if it's only part-time. Do your best to build your network. You don't need to know 100 people intimately, but if you meet someone, make the connection, whether on LinkedIn or in person, so you can reach out later if needed.
My main piece of advice: don't underestimate yourself. I had two summer internships that were only a few hours a day, three days a week, and in fields peripheral to the role I eventually landed. When building your resume or prepping for an interview, focus on relevant coursework or projects if you don't have an internship to point to.
If you're considering a graduate program, take additional math courses and work on writing code. You don't need to be an expert; just some familiarity goes a long way. With AI tools, it's easier than ever to get help with coding, but make sure you take the time to understand what you're writing rather than letting AI write it all for you.
5. Is there a course or professor that had a lasting impact on you?
I really appreciated the tight-knit feel of the Economics department at Fresno State. My professors were always willing to help, whether it was homework during office hours or guidance on a research project and grant that strengthened my grad school application. Dr. Fan helped me with my application essay and, once I had my offers, encouraged me to go back to the school I really wanted and negotiate based on my other offers, advice that ended up making a real difference. Thank you, Dr. Fan!
6. What's something about your job that surprised you or that students might not expect?
I think it is easy to get intimidated when we look around and see very smart people next to us. Working at a quantitative hedge fund, I find myself surrounded by very smart people. But I've found that a strong work ethic and the right mindset go a long way. If you're committed to understanding something and aren't afraid to ask questions and do the research, you can hold your own even in a room full of people who might have deeper academic training than you.