Student leader shares journey in finance and campus community
In December, Chase Mathias is gradauting from Barrett, The Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in finance from the W. P. Carey School of Business. Courtesy photo
Chase Mathias first realized that the medical field might not be for him during a high school biology class when he passed out while dissecting a pig. Though he dreamed of becoming an anesthesiologist, that experience nudged him toward a different path — one where he could still pursue his mission of helping others, but through the world of finance.
Now, as a senior at Arizona State University, Mathias is set to graduate from Barrett, The Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in finance from the W. P. Carey School of Business.
“I love helping people manage their wealth,” Mathias said. “My dream job is to be an advisor to people that want help managing their finances. I've always been a planner, and I believe in financial freedom. ... I wanted to go into the field to help people and show that they have a lot of opportunity.”
Mathias’ commitment to helping others extends beyond his field of study. As president of the Medallion Scholarship Program (MSP) — the ASU Alumni Association’s signature scholarship initiative — he is dedicated to connecting students and creating a supportive community.
“I went from being a cohort rep my first year, connecting with my class and planning events, and then became vice president. I became president this year, which has been super fun. We’ve had a lot of good ideas,” Mathias said.
As president, he has also leveraged his financial skills, helping to manage the program’s budget and plan future events.
“I think it’s really important to go over budgeting and how we spend money toward our events," he said. "I like to hear opinions from all the Medallions and what they’ve liked in the past. I want to make sure everyone is having fun.”
Mathias' involvement in MSP has given him a unique chance to connect with his younger brother, a freshman in the program, which has helped him build relationships with other underclassmen.
“Being in the program with him has connected me with the other freshmen, and that is something that I didn't have last year as the vice president,” Mathias said.
In addition to his finance degree, Mathias is graduating with a certificate in international business studies. A seasoned traveler, he’s visited over 30 countries, and his passion for understanding diverse cultures has fueled his interest in global business.
“I’ve always had a passion for knowing different cultures and ideas, especially when it comes to business,” Mathias said.
As part of his studies, Mathias studied abroad in Milan, Italy, where he gained insights into international business practices and work-life balance from a European perspective. This experience, combined with his learning in trade, foreign policy and currency exchange, has broadened his understanding of global markets.
“I would say my travel experience correlates with me pursuing my certificate because I love to talk to people," Mathias said. "To connect with others, that’s the biggest thing in business — the relationship aspect. I think that’s a very important thing to learn.”
Question: Why did you choose to attend ASU?
Answer: I chose to attend ASU because it was close to home. My mom had a brain tumor when I was younger. It grew back during my senior year of high school, so she had brain surgery that year. I just wanted to be close to my family, because we didn’t know what the timeline was with that. She’s doing great, we’re very fortunate.That was probably reason number one. Reason number two: I love Arizona. I've been here for 14 years, almost 15. I moved from Iowa. Reason number three: The business school at ASU seemed to be very big and very inclusive, and that's what I wanted to have.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: My sister is actually a junior in high school, and she's starting to look at universities. So the best piece of advice I could give would be to explore all of your options, but to not choose an option based on emotion. Choose what school would fit you and what you want to do the most — I think ASU has great programs to fit each individual. I would say to anyone who's a high school senior not to worry about the application process. It can be very stressful, but think about what would suit you best and let the emotions come after choosing. For example, I love football. I almost chose a Big Ten or SEC school because it would have been super fun on Saturdays, but I would have missed out on the opportunities at ASU.
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