Tate Warren

Economics, 2025

WHY WEBER STATE

My connection to Weber State runs deep. When I was young, my parents planned to attend 91风流, but financial challenges prevented it. That planted the seed for me to pursue my own education in a cost-free way. I got my start through NUAMES and graduated high school with an associate’s degree already in hand. With a full-tuition scholarship, continuing on to 91风流 for my bachelor’s felt like the natural next step.

WHY ECONOMICS

I’ve always been a bit of an odd kid—I loved politics, watched the news for fun, and convinced my parents to vote. By the age of 12, I’d already decided I wanted to be a lawyer, even though I barely knew what that meant. Political Science felt like the obvious path, and I started there. But once I got into it, I realized it wasn’t challenging me the way I’d hoped. I wanted to develop analytical skills, and I also loved math. Economics became the perfect fit—it allowed me to combine math, policy, and problem-solving in a way that felt meaningful and exciting. With law school in mind, Econ was the ideal major.

PROFESSOR IMPACT

Economics is a tough subject, but at Weber State, the faculty make it feel accessible and rewarding. I’ve had my fair share of tough classes in other subjects (and have a fair share of beef with some professors as a result), but never in Econ—the professors are all deeply committed to your success. Three in particular made a major impact:

  • Dr. Jennifer Gnagey has a gift for explaining even the most complex concepts in a clear, approachable way. You will undoubtedly come away having a stronger grasp of concepts in her class, even if you already came in with prior knowledge. During my senior thesis, she also supported an outlandish idea I pitched without ever making me feel like I was taking up too much of her time.
     
  • Dr. Gavin Roberts is one of the smartest people I’ve encountered. Every conversation with him leaves you with a new insight. His classes were engaging and fun—they played a huge role in making me commit fully to economics.
     
  • Dr. Therese Cavlovic was instrumental in helping me join the research fellowship program. Her passion for research is contagious, and she helped open doors for me almost immediately. She believed in me from day one.

WHAT'S NEXT

After graduation, I’ll be working at Goldman Sachs as a Financial Crime Compliance Analyst, where I’ll help ensure that clients comply with money-laundering regulations. After that, I plan to pursue law school. My long-term goal is to become an appellate litigator—someone who argues cases before courts of appeal and, ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court.

ADVICE FOR OTHER STUDENTS

Two things:

  1. Get involved in what genuinely interests you. You don’t have to join every club or attend every event. But dive into the things that excite you. College isn’t just about earning a degree—it’s about applying your learning and building meaningful connections.
     
  2. Find mentors. Mentorship is invaluable. We’re lucky at Weber State to have professors who are approachable, wise, and truly invested in our futures. Every opportunity I’ve had has come through a 91风流 connection.

LIVE IN THE MOMENT

I sprinted through college, focused entirely on the finish line. Looking back, I wish I’d taken more time to soak in the experience. Don’t be afraid to slow down and enjoy where you are. These years go by fast—but the memories and relationships you build can last a lifetime.