MA in Economics

Jessica Holmes, 2023

When are you graduating?

Spring 2023

How did you choose your specific area of study?

I never intended to study economics. I even told the teacher at my high school who taught AP Microeconomics and Macroeconomics that I refused to take his class because everyone told me it was hard. However, I took Principles of Microeconomics during my sophomore year of college when all my advisors were trying to find a program study that would suit my love of the humanities with my love of mathematics. I was hooked from the first class. My professor began this introductory class the same way most do by explaining that economics was not just about money and how the principles of economics can be found all around us and the choices we make. I was so hooked that I wanted to continue my education in economics at the graduate level, and I wanted to learn from the highly regarded professors of economics at George Mason.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?

I will treasure so much about my time in the economic department in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University. I had the opportunity to learn from Rosolino Candela, Peter Leeson, and Peter Boettke. I was honored to be a James Buchanan Fellow, named for the Nobel Laureate born and raised less than fifty miles from where I was born and raised. I had the opportunity to pursue various topics of research in my classes. I am very grateful for every experience I have had while at George Mason.

Of which accomplishment(s) during your time at Mason are you most proud?

I am very honored to have been selected by the economics department as a CHSS Outstanding Student Honoree for the 2023 graduating class. The economics department is filled with people I think are outstanding, and I am honored to call them my peers.

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career?

Professor Rosolino Candela had such a positive impact on my Mason career. He was one of my first professors at George Mason University and the "economic way of thinking" that he introduced in his Microeconomic Theory I class will continue to stay with me. He took such care with our examinations: I remember receiving my midterm exam all marked up in red ink, but on the last page Professor Candela wrote about how wonderful I did. It means so much when someone so highly regarded in their field takes the time to comment on all your responses so that you can learn how to better articulate your thoughts on economics. I enjoyed his style of teaching and personality so much that I took him again for Economic Policy Analysis I, and he once again took the time to comment every step of the way on a research paper I wrote in class.

What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students?

My advice to incoming graduate students is to take advantage of the access you have to your professors. Ask them about research topics and have them read your first drafts. At first, you might feel like you are imposing on their time, but so many professors want to help you succeed academically.

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?

I will be joining the Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics at the Bureau of Labor Statistics as an economist. I will be working on the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages as well as evaluating gross job gains and job losses statistics for the Business Employment Dynamics. I would love to stay with the Bureau of Labor Statistics long-term and eventually head one of their surveys.