Reshaping Horizons: A Journey from Community College to Water Economics

Brian McGreal's Story

McGreal-AMP-2024.jpg

In 2008, when the economy took a hit, Brian McGreal became really interested in economics. While others were settling into their careers, Brian felt drawn to understanding how things worked.  

Years later, in his mid-20s, he made an unexpected choice—to go back to college. He studied Environmental & Resource Economics at the College of Agriculture Life and Environmental Sciences (CALES). His decision was different, sparked by a passion that had been growing for years.

Embracing new beginnings: Never too late to start

Sitting outside Café Luce, near the University of Arizona, Brian highlighted how being in the program of Agricultural & Resource Economics (AREC) had been an incredible opportunity for his personal and academic growth. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Quantitative Ecology and Resource Management at the University of Washington.  

Brian emphasized how he was a “non-traditional” student coming into the AREC program in his mid-20s from a community college. When the economy took a hit in 2008, he knew he wanted to study something within the field of economics. Something that would go beyond the money and financial assets. He was drawn to “behavioral economics, and environmental economics”.  

Being from Southern California, his interest in water economics grew when he found that AREC is one of the few programs across the nation that have a specific major for water economics. He met with Bonnie Colby, a Professor in the AREC department. Professor Colby then became one of Brian’s mentors.

The Accelerated Master’s Program Journey

For Brian, going for a bachelor’s degree was all that he had planned, “I didn’t come out here with any designs on a graduate program or anything like that”.  

Based on personal experience and the shared views of many, the Department of Agriculture & Resource Economics (AREC) has exceptional, considerate, and encouraging professors. These faculty members consistently motivate their students to excel and genuinely aim for their success. Brian specifically recalls how Tauhid Rahman, another Professor in the department, was instrumental in nudging him toward the AMP program, being one of the first to encourage him in that direction. 

Considering Brian's timeline, completing both a bachelor's and master's degree before turning thirty seemed almost unbelievable. The Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) hadn't been attempted by anyone else at that point. Stephanie, the first alumna to pursue the program, had just begun her journey toward it. Having someone going through that process made Brian believe that he could do it too. “The AMP was like a good way to leverage that into taking my education a step further.” 

Moving from an undergraduate program within the AREC department made the AMP program more manageable for Brian. He noted that several courses during his undergrad might have been equally difficult compared to those he encountered in his graduate program. “The first year of the master’s program which you are both a grad student and undergrad, it felt like a natural transition to me since I got a lot of the more rigorous courses out of the way in the earlier years of undergrad”.  

The structure of the AREC department sets you up for success. It's designed in a way that prepares students for various next steps including a master’s program. The courses at the undergraduate level lay the groundwork for what you’ll encounter at the graduate level. Brian knew that furthering his studies through the AMP was the correct thing to do. “It provides you with a solid foundation in statistics and applied economics”, as Brian reflected.  

The Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) isn't suitable for those seeking to explore various courses or complete studies at their own pace. It's designed for individuals who have a clear direction for advancing their education but aim to do so within a shorter timeframe. Being in an AMP is demanding, as Brian noted; it often means sacrificing other things to keep up with the coursework and avoid falling behind.

Brian’s advice

Brian's primary advice for anyone considering the AMP program was to build connections with everyone—from faculty to fellow students—highlighting that everyone in the program is exceptionally bright. He emphasized the accessibility of faculty, mentioning that “unlike in other places, the professors here make time for their students”.  

“Taking advantage of the fact that you are in this small intimate department is somehow special, you have the opportunity to pick the brains of all these clever faculty and people.”  

Taking the time outside of the classroom to knock on professor’s doors, going to their office hours, or simply talking to them after class helps students build that connection that in the end makes students feel more confident about themselves as well as their academic career.

Brian pointed out that forming relationships with professors isn't just about academics—it's a key step for your future, whether it's pursuing a doctorate like he did or advancing in your career. He mentioned that many of the opportunities he's had were thanks to the connections he made with professors along the way.  

Just like Stephanie, the first AMP alumna, Brian mentioned that even now he considers emailing some professors when he is stuck with a problem or has a question about something. This only shows how professors from the AREC department are a big impact in all the students’ academic years.  

Now, Brian is pursuing his doctorate at the University of Washington. He mentioned that in his quantitative and resource management degree, the underlying data work is the same as in economics. One of the main differences between his master’s and doctorate is that “ecologists aren’t concerned at all about human behavior.” In his third chapter, he would like to keep economics underpinning involved, since he enjoys the studying of human decision-making.

As Brian concludes, studying anything without considering human decision-making is like “ignoring this huge elephant in the middle of the room if you’re not looking at people’s opinions and attitudes”.  

To learn more about degree programs in Agricultural and Resource Economics, click here. 

To learn more about the AREC Accelerated Master’s Programs, click here.