Meet a Retriever—Kyle Clelan ’08, M.A. ’09, private investments manager and Retriever Loyal donor
Meet Kyle Clelan, a double alumnus who earned his B.S. in financial economics in 2008 and his M.A. in economic policy analysis in 2009. Today, he serves as a private investments manager with The Johnson Group, building on a successful career with stints at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and T. Rowe Price. Kyle is also a Retriever Loyal donor, having given back to UMBC for the past eight years. Take it away, Kyle!
Q: What brought you to UMBC?
A: I was primarily drawn to UMBC because of its academically-centered reputation coming out of high school. I wanted to go to school, study, and work hard so that I could get to my career as soon as possible. Then I found myself surrounded by similarly-minded people and started making some lifelong friendships—many of whom were in my wedding. Meeting so many great people with a vast array of life experiences and backgrounds enhanced my time at UMBC immensely and helped me to slow down and enjoy the journey.
Left: Clelan when he first started at UMBC and lived in Chesapeake Hall. Right: Clelan and his first-year roommate, Matt Basch ’08, M.S. ’09, who became a lifelong friend.
Q: What did you love about the economics programs at UMBC?
A: The economic policy analysis program in particular introduced me to econometric and data science concepts and how they can apply to investment management and policy decision-making. I have used foundational knowledge I learned in that coursework over and over throughout my career. From how to build a model using Stata or SAS, for example, to learning how to organize data and look for anomalies that can help inform better risk management, the courses taught me how to think better analytically and holistically.
Q: Who in the community inspired you or supported you?
A: Doug Lamdin in the Department of Economics was my M.A. advisor, and I also did work with him during my time as an undergraduate. He helped me connect the dots between academia and practice by pushing me to do research with real-world market data. He also introduced me to several professional mentors and helped me find my initial internship at T. Rowe Price, where I spent the first 12 years of my professional career. That experience has been instrumental to where I am today.
Without Dr. Lamdin’s guidance and support, I likely would have never found that pivotal opportunity. And the knowledge I acquired and various investment and technical courses continue to come in handy in roles I have had and have now.
Q: What’s one thing you’d want someone to know about the support you find at UMBC?
A: I came to UMBC expecting a healthy balance of academic rigor and the opportunity to develop lasting relationships and connections. I was not disappointed. UMBC offers a myriad of opportunities to perform meaningful research. Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day, also known as URCAD, is one example that was very rewarding for me to publish my first paper. There are real pipelines that I personally benefitted from to get my career going, which showed me opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible without UMBC. It’s all about being proactive and seeking them out because the resources are there.
“The UMBC community really engages with alumni and cares how they are doing after graduation.Kyle Clelan ’08, M.A. ’09
financial economics
Q: Tell us about your current job. What do you like most about it?
A: For the past five years, I was a risk analyst within the Risk Surveillance Branch at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). I enjoyed performing broad derivatives market oversight work where we published reports on a regular basis to help better inform the public and help markets better manage systemic risks.
For the last year, I have relocated to being nearer to family in South Carolina and am working as a private investments manager for a family office and set of operating companies. In this role, I am applying the investment and risk management knowledge acquired from UMBC and my career, and I am enjoying being part of investment and capital allocation decisions that directly affect investment outcomes that benefit the company and also the local community.
Q: What drives you to support UMBC?
A: Without financial support from aid and scholarships, I likely would not have been able to attend college at all. So, giving back in whatever way I can now is important to me and my family because it could be just the little bit extra that makes all of the difference for someone to make something really special happen.
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UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.
Posted: August 11, 2026, 8:44 AM