About Devin

Hometown:
Minnetonka, MN

University Partner:
The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Degree:
B.A. in Economics & French, 2006

Grant Partner:
Bloomberg News

Senior Mentor:
Tom Keene, Editor-at-Large

"Certainly, the exposure to a professional environment has shown me how much it takes to attain a high level of distinction. I am heartened to find that continued advancement comes naturally from moving continually onwards from one challenge to the next, an observation confirmed among the other Steamboat Scholars. Living and interacting with eight varieties of personalities with this same drive was an incredible insight into what really makes a leader."

Scholar Background

A National Merit and Advanced Placement Scholar, Devin doubled majored in Economics and French at UNC-Chapel Hill. Studying abroad in Montpellier, France in 2004, Devin fulfilled his passion for French literature and cinema while fully immersing himself in the language and culture. While in France, Devin participated in the “Benevole” Project, teaching history, English, and math—in his second language—to middle school students with special needs. This experience allowed Devin to give back to newly arrived immigrants and impoverished children in the city projects. Extending his experiences abroad, Devin interned at the State Department in Marseille, France during the first semester of his senior year, aiding U.S. citizens living abroad. In the first weeks of his internship, Devin was entrusted with the task of translating a full report on the French punitive system and its regulations in regards to foreign detainees. An inspired writer who received the National Society of Teachers of English Achievement Award in Writing, Devin viewed the internship with Bloomberg News as a creative outlet to express his avid interest in international economics.

Internship Highlight

At Bloomberg, Devin worked closely with Chartered Financial Analyst and editor-at-large Tom Keene, assisting him and the producers of his daily radio show Bloomberg on the Economy. Devin learned to examine market trends from a macroeconomic perspective with help from Mr. Keene, the Bloomberg system, and other members of the economics news team. One day Mr. Keene pulled Devin from his desk for a seemingly impromptu encounter with Steve Forbes, President and CEO of Forbes. In a lively ten-minute conversation, the three briefly discussed the inscription for a soon-to-be published Bloomberg imprint book and compared educated guesses on current GNP for the world’s major economies. The experience provided a lesson in the importance of relationship-buildling in effective reporting.

Where are they now?

After graduation, Devin worked as a financial analyst and legal assistant for Eichner & Norris PLLC in Washington, D.C. In 2007, he joined Blue Orchid Capital, LLC as a research analyst.