Chris Sauer ’95 majored in economics at Transylvania, but the
liberal arts curriculum allowed him to make connections outside of his subject
area, particularly with philosophy professor Jack Furlong. “To me he exemplifies what makes
Transylvania special,” Sauer said. “He is a world-class intellectual, but
dedicated to being a good teacher. He probably had more influence on teaching me
how to think and how to approach problems critically than just about anyone.”
Sauer has put those analytical
thinking skills to good use, earning advanced degrees from the University of
Michigan and Columbia University, working in the White House, and navigating the
financial markets in New York City.
A native of Owensboro, Ky., Sauer
had planned to attend Notre Dame before the William T. Young Scholarship
convinced him to stay in his home state. Almost 10 years after its introduction,
Transy’s merit-based scholarship program hadn’t lost any of its luster when he
arrived on campus. “It definitely meant recognition,”
he said. “People knew it was a unique award. To receive this from a top quality
school was a big statement of confidence in you.”
After graduating from Transy, Sauer
earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan and
spent two years working in the Office of Management and Budget at the White
House during the Clinton administration. As the analyst in charge of Social
Security reform, Sauer ran financial models to show the consequences of
potential changes, such as raising the retirement age. “It was a very exciting time,” he
said. “Social Security was one of the president’s central issues. If I had been
working on another issue, it might have been interesting, but it wouldn’t have
been nearly as exciting and I wouldn’t have had as much exposure to cabinet
level people.”
Sauer left Washington and earned
his MBA from Columbia University Business School. He worked for four years at
Lehman Brothers in New York City, concentrating on natural resources and then
consumer retail. Last year he began doing general corporate advisory work for a
smaller merchant bank, Groton Partners, in New York.
Transylvania University admits students regardless of age, race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, national origin, or any other classification protected by federal or state law or local ordinance.
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