Daniel Burnett '23

Daniel Burnett ‘23
Major: Economics
Next Step: Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Finance

Daniel Burnett has climbed to great heights during his four years as an economics major in the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts. From excelling in his classes and in his work as a student philanthropy officer, to impactful research projects and formative internships, Burnett has taken full advantage of all the programming, resources, and opportunities that BCLA and LMU provide.

Burnett, who is from Los Angeles, remembers his family encouraging him to apply to the “school on the hill.” He asked them, “What is the school on the hill?” and they replied “Loyola Marymount University.” Burnett applied, got in, and eventually settled into the economic major because he was interested in a discipline that was both intersectional and quantitative.

Burnett’s course of study has allowed him to link theory, passion, and practice. During his last semester at LMU, he participated in two interesting research experiences. First, with the African American Studies Department, he studied whether women of color experience menopause differently than white women. Secondly, with the Economics Department, he studied the healthcare cost of menopause treatments, such as HRT, and how accessible they are to women. Other notable research experiences have included a Rhetorical Arts paper looking at sexual violence inside prisons; an Econometrics paper on the effects of women smoking during pregnancy; partnering with LMU’s Coastal Restoration Institute to create an elevation baseline model of the sand dunes at three California beaches for The Bay Foundation; as well as a paper on perimenopause that he completed as part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program.

These experiences in conjunction with courses in Congressional Politics, Constitutional Law II, Macroeconomics, Environmental Economics, Modern Global Environmental History, and Financial Economics prepared Burnett for the very prestigious Environmental Defender Internship at the U.S. State Department, Bureau and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES).

“I was surprised how well my economic, political science, and history classes tied into my work,” said Burnett. “I was able to comprehend comprehensive international and national policy, economy data, and independently research the social, political, and economic history of any country.”

Burnett truly has a passion for helping others and ultimately decided to apply for Georgetown’s Master’s in Finance program. “In talking to my bosses, colleagues and mentors, I learned that one of the best ways to build stronger non-profits and small businesses is through their finances,” said Burnett.

Beyond Georgetown, he is considering law school and/or a Ph.D. program. His ultimate career goal is to become a chief financial officer, or federal judge, or both!

“The liberal arts Jesuit education that LMU provided has shown me what it truly means to be a life learner, and how to strive to be the best that I can be,” said Burnett. “When you stay focused on your goal, and ignore any negativity or discouragement, you will be able to soar above and beyond your own expectations.”