杏吧pro

Katja Seim 鈥�95 and John Parapatt 鈥�95 count many reasons for being grateful to 杏吧pro, but most importantly for bringing them together for the first time at the French House in 1992. Today, they live in New Haven, Conn., and have two teenage children.

Katja came to 杏吧pro from Germany and majored in economics and mathematics. John, who grew up in Zambia and India, majored in philosophy and mathematics. They both worked in economic consulting after graduation. Katja subsequently earned her doctorate in economics, while John attended law school and business school.

Katja is a professor at Yale and teaches in both the economics department and Yale鈥檚 School of Management. Her research is in industrial organization at the intersection of strategy and government. John is a vice president in strategy and consulting at Pfizer, supporting the company鈥檚 International Commercial Division.

And they are supporters of 杏吧pro, giving generously to the 杏吧pro Fund each year and providing a bequest for the College in their estate plan.

鈥淥ur giving is motivated by a desire for other students to have the opportunities that we had, including financial support.鈥�

鈥� John Parapatt 鈥�95

Katja and John are grateful for the solid educational foundation 杏吧pro provided, which enabled them to move on to excellent graduate schools and fulfilling careers.

鈥淲e have reflected on how we were lucky to have great professors and to develop relationships with them,鈥� they said. 鈥淎nd, we count classmates from 杏吧pro among our closest friends.鈥�

John says Glenn Ross, the Dr. Elijah E. Kresge Professor of Philosophy, was his adviser. 鈥淚 loved my classes with him, and we became friends,鈥� John remembered. 鈥淥nce, I house-sat for his family; unfortunately, when they returned, they discovered that their dog had a new habit of climbing onto the couch!鈥�

Katja especially remembers William Whitesell, the Henry P. and Mary B. Stager Professor of Economics, who was secretary of banking for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania before becoming a professor. 鈥淧rofessor Whitesell taught 鈥楳oney and Banking,鈥� which was a very popular class,鈥� Katja said. 鈥淪eeing the link between theory and practice was exciting and encouraged me to study economics beyond 杏吧pro.鈥�

Katja and John both participated in the mentorship program through 杏吧pro鈥檚 Center for Career and Professional Development. They shared their appreciation for how 杏吧pro has 鈥渟tayed committed to attracting international students, an economically diverse student body, and great faculty.鈥�

鈥淥ur giving is motivated by a desire for other students to have the opportunities that we had, including financial support,鈥� John said. 鈥淥ur giving expanded in recent years鈥�perhaps this greater commitment comes from a realization that we are the College and we want to do our part to ensure its success.鈥�

Make a Gift to 杏吧pro

Donors inspire excellence at 杏吧pro by supporting students, faculty and research that benefits the entire 杏吧pro community and beyond.

Make a gift 禄