English Degree “Invaluable” For Career At Federal Reserve

William Dowling (’13) uses his literature education to aid low-income communities.

By William Dowling and Samantha Suplee.

“So, were you an econ or finance major?” Will Dowling hears this question a lot, but the answer is none of the above. The 2013 University of Maryland English major has a career that many consider unconventional for someone with his academic background: he works at the Center for Community Development Investments at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. He calls the Center a “clearinghouse” for all policy and finance issues related to community development, and its mission is to work with financial institutions to alleviate poverty and channel resources to the public good.

Although much of Dowling’s work is based in economics, his reading and analytical writing skills help him translate quantitative inputs into qualitative outputs.

“Whether you’re analyzing a passage of Shakespeare or a data set from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, being able to think systematically is critical,” he says. “Studying English at the University of Maryland honed my ability to formulate an argument, marshal evidence, and articulate my views.  I have found these skills to be invaluable in my professional career.”

While Dowling finds his work in community development and finance very fulfilling, he didn’t think he’d be where he is now when he began his studies at UMD.

“For a while, I thought I might go on to law school after I graduated,” he says. “In the summer of my junior year, I took an internship with the Federal Reserve Board in DC.  They originally hired me to do policy research and technical writing, but my responsibilities quickly increased when they saw that I also had an aptitude for data analysis.  I ended up really enjoying the work and wanted to continue in the field.”

Thanks to ARHU’s internship program, he was able to do just that: 

“ARHU was great about ensuring that I got credits for my internship. During my senior year, I worked at the Board three days a week and took classes at UMD the other two.  This helped me to gain professional skills while expanding my network, and ultimately led to my current position.”

Dowling would advise anyone studying English to not be limited by popular perception of the degree.

“If you’re studying English to become a teacher, or writer, or go on to law school, that’s great—but don’t think those are the only options for you.  More and more companies are placing greater emphasis on creativity in the workplace and recognizing the value of a liberal arts degree. In my mind, creativity is the ability to look at a problem from multiple perspectives, and I think this is something that English majors do exceptionally well.”        

Dowling currently resides in San Francisco, California and can be reached at Willpdowling@gmail.com.