Psaros Center FinPolicy Scholars Meet Financial Policymakers and Wall Street Executives

After completing the spring semester, 14 Georgetown undergraduate students embarked on the second annual FinPolicy Trek, hosted by the Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where they met with officials at landmark policy and financial offices in Washington, D.C., and New York City. 

This cohort of students, the Psaros FinPolicy Scholars, were hand-selected by Psaros Center leadership and come from McDonough, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Walsh School of Foreign Service.

The FinPolicy Trek highlights the intersection of finance and policy and exposes students to current issues being addressed by both policymakers and market participants. As the week progressed, themes presented themselves throughout the numerous conversations, demonstrating the connected nature of financial policy and financial markets. Utilizing Georgetown’s connections in Washington, D.C., and its outstanding alumni network, the Psaros FinPolicy Scholars had unparalleled opportunities to engage with high-level officials who often asked the students, “How can I help you?”

“Regardless of where we were, I felt the warmth and spirit of the Georgetown community as we spoke with many Hoyas who shared their college stories and professional journeys,” said Michelle Chen (B’27), a 2024 Psaros FinPolicy Scholar. “The alumni generously offered valuable advice that added a heartwarming and personal touch to this trek.” 

While in Washington, D.C., students met with legislators and regulators from multiple government agencies. They began the week at the White House, meeting with key decision-makers who report to the president of the United States. They also visited the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. In these meetings, speakers shared their perspectives on various topics ranging from implementing lessons from the Great Financial Crisis to the coronavirus pandemic, the effects of the national debt on geopolitics and national security, and how proposed policies can have implications on the financial markets.

To learn more about government regulation, scholars visited the two regulatory agencies, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Students also had the opportunity to separately speak with CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam (C’00) and SEC Chair Gary Gensler, discussing the overlap and contrasts of their commissions.

After receiving well wishes from Georgetown’s mascot, Jack the Bulldog, the Psaros FinPolicy Scholars traveled to the U.S. Capitol where they briefly met with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson. After taking photos on the Speaker’s Balcony, students proceeded to their meetings with Michigan Representative Debbie Dingell (SFS’75, C’96) and Wisconsin Representative Bryan Steil (B’03). Sharing their journeys from the Hilltop to Capitol Hill, the alumni emphasized the value of bringing passion to public service. 

For the second half of the FinPolicy Trek, students traveled to  New York City where they were hosted by the Psaros family — Mike Psaros (B’89), his wife Robin Psaros (P’21), and their son, Leo Psaros (B’21) — to begin the market participant portion of their journey. The Psaros FinPolicy Scholars learned about KPS Capital Partners, of which Mike Psaros is the co-founder and managing partner, and private equity, particularly the manufacturing sector that KPS specializes in. 

The remainder of the New York City itinerary was packed as students visited Neuberger Berman, Silver Lake, Goldman Sachs, the New York Stock Exchange, Nuveen Churchill Asset Management, JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock, and BNY Mellon. 

As part of their visit to JPMorgan Chase, students were on set for the Wealth Management Morning Meeting, led by Mary Erdoes (C’89), chief executive officer of the Asset and Wealth Management Division and a Psaros Center Advisory Board Member. Afterward, students interacted with Hoya-infused panels to learn more about the potential of digital assets, the ambivalent effects of new technology development, and specializing within the private sector. 

While on the trek, students met with senior leadership across the public and private sectors while delving into the intersection of finance and policy. 

“From the start, the policy aspects had been what drew me to the FinPolicy Trek,” said Olivia Zhao (B’27), another 2024 Psaros FinPolicy Scholar. “However, the trek ultimately melded the public and private aspects together, which demonstrated that they are not two separate, autonomous entities.”

While the FinPolicy Trek only lasted five days, its effect on the Psaros FinPolicy Scholars will last a lifetime as their experiences will inform their future studies on the Hilltop as well as their career trajectories.

– Téa Anderson, marketing and communications coordinator at the Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy