Graduate Profile: Jessica Karbowski
Jessica Karbowski applies the concepts she learned from her economics minor to the concepts she now faces at Yale Law School.
“My economics minor constantly assists me in understanding different legal concepts; particularly since ‘law and economics’ has had so much influence in contemporary legal thought,” the 2004 graduate says. “Economics is a field that provides a construct for understanding how decisions are made in many diverse fields, so it lends itself to someone interested in studying law in the future.”
Her various travels around the world included living with a host family in Tanzania, studying dollarization in Ecuador and spending a year studying economic development in Mauritius, an island nation off the coast of Africa, as a Fulbright scholar.
“Studying economics provided me with a distinct way of seeing the world,” she says. “In my opinion, it is impossible to understand the motivations of countries without taking economic considerations into account. Perhaps even more importantly, economic growth impacts the most marginalized communities in the world in such a fundamental way. Without jobs and income, people do not eat.”
Interning in the summer 2007 for the Department of Commerce was a perfect fit for Karbowski, who has always had an interest in international trade law.
“My economics background has assisted me in my summer legal clerkship experience by providing me with an understanding of international trade policy beyond only the legal aspects that my graduate education focuses on,” she says.
Attracted to Alma because of its academic reputation and outstanding faculty, Karbowski also appreciated the opportunity to take part in various activities. While at Alma, Karbowski was president of her class, the Model United Nations team and the Alma Leadership Alliance. In addition, she was involved in the Young Democrats, the Alma Chapter of Amnesty International, Alma Ambassadors, Alpha Xi Delta and the Orientation Committee.
“The difference between Alma and many other schools is that the resources Alma has to offer are easily available to interested students,” she says. “Professors are accessible and available to speak with students—developing a relationship with a professor is always an organic process, as professors are genuinely interested in assisting with the professional and academic development of their students.”
