Posted on December 5, 2025 by Rebekah Alegria
When Kolby Porter decided to return to graduate school after several years in the workforce, he was chasing a challenge. This fall he completes his master of arts in economics in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business. For him, the degree symbolizes something deeper: discipline, growth and the belief that hard things are worth doing.
Kolby Porter, MA Economics, concentration in Business Analytics and Forecasting '25
Fascinated by the technical side of business, Kolby Porter chose to continue his education at the graduate level at UT San Antonio to expand his horizons. A native of New Braunfels, Texas, he earned his undergraduate degree in agricultural business from Texas A&M. Though he enjoyed the managerial and holistic components of his undergraduate program, Porter wanted to learn more about analytics, forecasting and justhow data tells stories about industries and markets.
“I always felt like there was something still on the table, something to accomplish, something to push myself toward,” he said. “I figured if I get into UTSA, then it’s meant to be.”
Kolby Porter, Alvarez Fall graduate, ma economics '25
Balancing full-time employment while pursuing a rigorous STEM-based master’s program wasn’t easy. Porter works as an inside and outside sales representative at All-Tex Pipe and Supply, an industrial supply firm in San Antonio. His days are spent talking with clients, managing orders and keeping a pulse on how economic shifts affect pricing—something his coursework has sharpened significantly.
“Economics has given me a good insight into how the economy is moving and how prices change with fluctuations,” he added.
His classes added crucial context that helped him understand how macroeconomic shocks trickle down into real-world input costs and customer pricing.
Porter also found that graduate school required a different level of discipline than his undergraduate years. “When you get a master’s, it’s different; you sink or you swim. You put the hours in, and you see the results.”
Some nights meant long study sessions; others meant pushing through exhaustion after full workdays. He describes the experience as a lesson in consistency and self-evaluation — figuring out how he learns best, refining his study habits and staying focused on why he started.
One of the proudest moments of his program came during his time series forecasting course with Natassa Zervou, associate professor of economics. Tasked with expanding the analysis of a decades-old research paper using modern data and a different coding language, Porter dug into economic indicators from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, real GDP data, agricultural metrics and oil price information. He successfully replicated and extended the paper’s findings without relying on the original functions or tools.
Another source of pride was simply seeing the culmination of his hard work reflected in his transcript.
“Finishing with a stellar GPA from a wonderful university… I’m really proud of that,” he said
Throughout his time at UT San Antonio, he found support and steady encouragement from Rodrigo Velez, professor of economics and faculty graduate advisor. “He’s the kind of person you hope your graduate advisor will be--encouraging, willing to help and always standing up for students.”
Looking ahead, Porter hopes to work as a research economist, ideally with the USDA, where he can merge his background in agricultural business with his technical training in economics and forecasting. The idea of conducting real economic analysis, like working with data, interpreting shocks and understanding how markets move, energizes him.
What motivates him most is the support system that has carried him through the long nights and early mornings: his fiancée, his parents and the people who believed in his potential even when things were difficult.
“It sounds corny, but their sacrifice shouldn’t be wasted. That really motivates me to put this degree to good use,” he shared.
Porter hopes his journey encourages other Roadrunners, especially those balancing full-time jobs, to trust that their hard work is worth it. His advice for students juggling work, school and life is straightforward: stay focused on your “why,” stay consistent and don’t be afraid to reevaluate how you learn best.
“Those three things make your hard work pay off in the end,” he assured.
— Rebekah Alegria
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