BA Economics, 2013

What work are you doing now?

I am the Deputy Director of Corporate Administration for the District of Kitimat. I prepare agendas, minutes, draft bylaws, interpret legislation, run elections, etc.

What other positions have you held since graduating?

I worked as an intern for Northern Development Trust, an intern with the Village of Ashcroft, and a Deputy Corporate Officer for the Village of Ashcroft.

What other training have you completed?

I am currently working towards a diploma in Public Administration through the University of Victoria.

How did your degree lead to these activities?

By studying Economics, I was given an opportunity to work within economic development which was very different then what I had studied at UNBC. By working within local government, I discovered the policy side and was lucky enough to have a boss who provided an environment where I could jump into different departments.

I found that policy was the side of local government that I enjoyed, and it was most similar to what I had learned at UNBC. Therefore, I made the switch in my career and have enjoyed it.

How do you use the knowledge acquired through the degree in your job?

Specific classes like Economics of Northern BC, Labour Economics, Global Economics, and Econometrics helped develop a skill set for understanding complex relationships in the world around me. Classes like Trade and the Environment helped to develop skills required for analyzing legislation and policy which lends itself well to the structured legislative environment of local government.

Ultimately, doing research work for Dr. Fiona MacPhail and Dr. Paul Bowles was the most important building block for my career. Seeing research first hand and how it developed into practical uses gave me invaluable experience in building my career.

What do you really enjoy about Economics?

I enjoy the theory and modeling involved in economics. Designing a model, taking the data, and interpreting the results was always exciting.

Why would you recommend the Economics program at UNBC to potential students?

I had a great experience at UNBC and was able to simultaneously learn practical skills while also keeping the door open to graduate studies. Small classes, unique opportunities, and great professors were incredibly important to my personal and professional growth.