Falcon Futures: UWRF student puts skills to work for Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis internship

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Falcon Futures: UW-River Falls student puts finance, economics and math skills to work for internship at Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

July 16, 2026 — Mason Steele of Hudson, a triple major in finance, economics and mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, had a goal in his junior year: to land a competitive summer internship at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

“This was something I was working toward for a while,” Steele said. “I applied last year also, but I wasn’t successful that time.”

As one of more than 5,000 students applying for around 45 positions, Steele was not alone. Fewer than 1% of applicants are accepted. Steele still made good use of that summer, taking an internship as a credit analyst with a bank. But he kept working toward his goal of an internship at the Fed.

Once back at school, Steele attended resume workshops with finance professionals organized by UWRF Career Services and reached out to a recruiter for more advice. He applied to the Fed again and secured an interview for the summer 2026 position. Steele then went back to Career Services to prepare.

“They were able to give me some advice on how to prepare for a panel interview with multiple people,” Steele said.

That interview went well and Steele soon received an offer.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Steele said. “I kept looking at the emails over and over. This was such a big goal that I had.”

Steele is working in Community and Regional Supervision within the Fed’s Supervision, Regulation and Credit Department, which sets rules and ensures financial institutions are following the laws. The Fed also fosters the safety and efficiency of payment systems and promotes consumer protection and community development.

“It is really integrated into the community and does a lot more than just monetary policy,” Steele said. “There is a public service aspect to it. That’s one reason I was really interested in working for the institution.”

When Steele enrolled at UWRF, he already had over a semester’s worth of credits completed through Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment courses he took while in high school. He could have completed a double major in finance and economics in three years, but he decided instead to add mathematics and give himself more options in the future.

“I think my primary goal would be to work at the Federal Reserve,” Steele said. “My other interest has always been in investments and getting a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification. I have also considered getting a Ph.D. in economics and working in academia. In order to do that, you need a ton of math skills.”

Other possibilities include pursuing a master’s degree in financial math or statistics.

Steele said that while college graduates are facing a challenging job market, he feels he will be well prepared for whatever path he chooses when he graduates next May.

“I have a wide range of options,” Steele said. “I’ll see where things go after this internship... what I like and am most interested in.”

In choosing a college, Steele said he was attracted to UWRF’s small class sizes and affordable tuition that allowed him to finance his education by himself with paid internships and part-time jobs. Once on campus, he found himself learning about more than finance, economics and math.

“My time at UWRF has pushed me to grow both academically and personally, learning how to approach complex problems with discipline and persistence,” Steele said. “My Professional Development class was one of the most pivotal classes I took here. It emphasized networking, interviewing skills, professionalism, salary negotiations and more in a practical way that directly helped me prepare for future career opportunities.”