Cal State Fullerton College of Business and Economics double economics alumnus Thomas Clark ’14,’19 has recently joined Sixth Street, a global investment firm based in San Francisco, as a vice president in the company’s control room. Clark credits his CSUF economics education as pivotal to his preparedness for such high-level roles.

“Throughout my career, I have leveraged my educational background in economics at Cal State Fullerton by applying economic and analytical principles to financial and compliance issues,” says Clark. “My education provided a solid foundation in economic theory and quantitative analysis, which has been invaluable in understanding market dynamics and regulatory environments.”

Prior to his current position at Sixth Street, Clark spent nearly eight years at Oaktree Capital, arriving as an analyst in 2017, around the same time as starting his M.A. in economics at Cal State Fullerton. The analytical skills used in his graduate courses propelled him from analyst to vice president at that Los Angeles-based global asset management firm that manages more than $200 billion in assets under management.

Follow Your Passion and Maximize Your Experience: Clark’s Advice as a Lecturer

In addition to a successful career in finance, Clark gives back to the next generation as an adjunct professor at Cal State Fullerton, teaching ECON 202 – Principles of Macroeconomics. Clark recognizes that returning to his alma mater to teach is beneficial both to him and the students he prepares.

“It is rewarding to return to where I started my academic journey and contribute to the growth and development of current students. I feel a strong sense of giving back to the institution that laid the foundation for my career,” says Clark. “Interacting with students keeps me intellectually engaged. Their questions and insights often lead me to revisit and deepen my understanding of economic concepts and current issues. Being part of the campus community fosters a sense of belonging and collaboration, both with students and faculty, enriching my professional and personal life. I have two degrees in economics from CSUF and teaching offered me a way to stick around a place that I’m very fond of.”

As a lecturer and double alumnus of the economics program at Cal State Fullerton, Clark has a versatile background for advising today’s students. First and foremost, he encourages students to find their true passion and calling as a starting point.

“The worst advice I hear frequently from students when I ask them ‘Why did you choose your major?’ is ‘Because someone told me I’ll get a job, or I’ll make money, or it’s stable.’ That is a terrible reason to choose what you’re going to spend the rest of your life doing,” says Clark. “Anyone who chooses the M.A. program should ask themselves, ‘Do I love economics? Does it scratch that intellectual itch?’ If you follow your passion and interests, jobs, stability, and progression will follow. Things will fall into place.”

Clark suggests internships, extracurricular projects such as the Center for Economic Education’s financial literacy advising to schoolchildren and recovering homeless populations, and service learning projects as opportunities to hone knowledge in a real-world applicational setting. 

“Practical experience will complement your academic learning and improve your marketability, especially if you don’t plan on pursuing a Ph.D. So much of finding the right job has to do with starting early. I see too many students wait until they are about to graduate to start looking for a job or internship,” observes Clark. “The search should start very early on. Undergraduate students should start looking for an internship ideally sophomore into junior year at the latest. For M.A. students, the search should start in your first semester if you aren’t already working. Starting to look in your last semester is too late. Economics is interdisciplinary. Be open to exploring areas like finance, policy, data science, and technology, which can broaden your career options.”

For More on the M.A. in Economics

Feel a graduate-level economics education is right for your interests and goals? For more on the M.A. in economics or to apply today, visit the program’s website. Or read more of our articles on this specialized master’s program.