Student Spotlight: Richard Harris '14

Publication Date

Hometown: Little Falls, N.Y.
Major: Economics
Minor: French

Most inspiring class:
Economic Justice. I studied health-related concepts, health insurance and the ethics and philosophy behind human health care. Though I came to college for biology and wanted to be a doctor, I became more interested in the economic side of the field. I took intro to economics, flip-flopped majors and minors, and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.

Activities:
Head Residence Advisor, Admissions Gatekeeper, peer career adviser, EMT with Union College Emergency Medical Service (UCEMS), Financial Club, vice president of finance for Student Forum

Also passionate about:
Winston (President and Mrs. Ainlay’s dog). I love Winston. During Move-in Day, while the president and Mrs. Ainlay mingled, Winston stayed at the RA table. That's a good indication of what Union is like – you know the name of the president's dog.

Outside Union:
I have a close group of friends, and we like going off campus. We go to concerts in Albany and frequent local clubs in Schenectady and restaurants on Jay Street. I also like to play tennis and run.

Why Union:
I wanted a school that was small enough for community, but big enough for opportunity. Union has the resources of a large university, and Union throws leadership opportunities at your feet. I came in biology (premed) but was also was interested in government, economics, French and political science. I wanted a school where I didn't have to limit myself or feel backed into a corner. I was inspired by my 11th grade chemistry teacher, a Union alum who is now an Admissions dean.

Looking into the future:
I'm drawn toward consulting. I've talked to a lot of alumni with amazing experiences; people who are traveling all over the world, building new companies, seeing new faces. There's a very strong personal component and a huge amount of flexibility. It's broadly applicable in a lot of fields. Honestly though, I'm just going to walk through the doors as they open.