Ajay Thomas was not exposed to a large academic setting in his hometown of Tomball, Texas, and found that Southwestern fit all of his needs for a higher education environment. "Southwestern's liberal arts education afforded me the opportunity to explore my interests fully, and I was able to cultivate a broader range of knowledge and benefit from a richer education experience," he says. Thomas was able to determine his discipline of study through his experiences at Southwestern.

He graduated from Southwestern with a bachelor of arts in economics with a minor in political science. He was drawn to economics because finance and business intrigued him. "I thought that having an economics and finance skill set as a foundation would transition well into a career," he says. Beyond his economics courses, Thomas was able to enjoy other classes that peaked his curiosity. "My minor in political science was a result of my passion for politics and public policy," he says. "I enjoy the political process and simply wanted to learn more about various facets of government both here and abroad."

Thomas became close with many Southwestern professors, and two of the greatest influences on his career path were Kenneth Roberts and Mary Young. "Both professors fueled my desire to learn the discipline and challenged me to go beyond the presented material in the classroom and make a commitment to my education," he says. Thomas accomplished this through a one-year general course scholarship at the London School of Economics, LSE. Each teacher prepared Thomas in different ways for the challenges he would face in London. "Dr. Roberts encouraged me to challenge my boundaries and helped me develop the necessary confidence to excel in the LSE program," he says. "The valuable skills I learned from Dr. Young prepared me well in handling the course load at LSE and helped me compete with students from around the world."

Continuing his education, Thomas achieved a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University where he concentrated in business and government policy. He also obtained a law degree from The University of Texas. "The combination of both degrees provides me with a unique perspective that I continuously apply in my career today," he says. After graduation, Thomas worked in politics, predominantly at the federal and city level, and then later transitioned into consulting and investment banking. Now, Thomas is a vice president in public finance and investment banking with Morgan Stanley. "I work with public and private entities to help solve policy goals related to their financing needs," he says.

Thomas feels that his success is due to the valuable lessons he learned at Southwestern. "My Southwestern education provided me the foundation necessary to maximize my talents, but more importantly gave me the confidence to compete in the business world," he says. "To this day, Southwestern remains a special place to me. In many ways, I consider Southwestern as the pivotal catalyst in my life that helped lead me to the success I enjoy today."

Thomas has found a way to give back to Southwestern and make a difference. "Currently, I serve as a founding member of the University's Employer Advisory Board, whose mission is to provide students with access to accomplished alumni that can offer direction and guidance on diverse career paths, but more importantly help students leverage their Southwestern education to its fullest potential," he says. "The Southwestern University experience is so unique. I believe it is vital for the ongoing value of your degree to remain engaged in the University and help continue its mission to provide a first-class liberal arts education."

In his spare time, Thomas enjoys spending time with his wife of seven years, Sherry, and their two children Michael, 6, and Kara Ann, 11 months. "I am active in every aspect of my family's life and truly treasure the time I spend with them. Since I have young children, I enjoy watching their growth and development and hope to have a positive impact in their lives," he says.