Profile

Soon after Thomas Ezra was honorably discharged after serving four years in the United States Marine Corps, he began searching for his next step. Looking for opportunities outside the Marine Corps, he sought an institution that would provide him career opportunities in an urban center as well as academic rigor. Portland State University offered both, all while being close to home.

Receiving his B.S. in Finance, Ezra looks back at his time spent at PSU and remembers his professors and fellow classmates as a highlight of his experience. “The School of Business truly has a unique and diverse pool of candidates, which makes the learning experience go beyond the class room and simply academics. The professors were equally as diverse in their range of skills and experience.”

As Ezra’s graduation approached, Dean Scott Dawson introduced him to a PSU Business Advisory Council member Bob Jesenik. Jesenik is President of Aequtias Capital Management, a value-oriented alternative investment manager. This connection helped lead Ezra’s to his current job as a Financial Analyst at the firm. Ezra feels lucky to be working with such a talented group of professionals. “I have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of investment opportunities, which provides a challenging and rare learning opportunity in the Pacific Northwest.”

Ezra stays connected to PSU and is an annual donor to the School of Business. He also closely follows the School of Business newsletters. Click here if you missed the 2010 Fall Newsletter.