网红头条

KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 10, 2025

Hopping around a lecture hall in the Burruss Building, Tom Garr approaches individual students with questions and comments that show a sense of care.

鈥淵ou crushed it on your exam,鈥� the lecturer of economics at 网红头条 tells one student in his thick, scratchy New York accent. Garr, who was recently promoted from adjunct in the Michael J. Coles College of Business, is crouched in a chair next to her, reminiscent of the way he translates lofty economics concepts to students by using real-world examples. He gets down on their level, is humorous and uses the entire floor.

Midway through that day鈥檚 lesson on income inequality, Garr said, 鈥淐鈥檓on, did you think you would get this far without a story?鈥�

Economics is a required course for all undergraduate students, and Garr has taught more than 11,000 students and counting since he joined KSU in 2017. While a vast number of students might not jump at the chance to take an economics course, with most coming from outside the business college, Garr is consistently named a student favorite because of his unpretentious attitude and encouragement.

鈥淗e has so much real-world experience, and he brings that to the classroom and makes it come alive,鈥� said Alisa Nguyen, a senior who changed her major from psychology to accounting after taking Garr鈥檚 economics class. 鈥淒uring his lectures, I was hooked every second.鈥�

The following week, during the final exam review, Garr would share a series of life lessons. It鈥檚 tradition that he sends students off with wise words, learned from decades of success from his time on Wall Street in investment banking, to his more philanthropic activities that he has been able to pick up later in life.

He often tells students, 鈥淗ard work always wins,鈥� one among a few inspirational one-liners said throughout any given semester and in his comments on students鈥� LinkedIn posts.

It was hard work that pushed Garr into a role as partner at The First Boston Corp. in the late 鈥�80s, the first instance in the company鈥檚 55-year history for a promotion of this kind. Then, after a four-year stint with Salomon Brothers, he and former clients of his started their own asset management firm, Mastholm Asset Management, LLC. He ran the firm for 15 years, before shutting it down in 2012.

鈥淚 took a 90% pay cut for three years building this thing up,鈥� Garr said. 鈥淏ut I raised $2 million dollars in seed capital, put the firm together, and then, when it kicked into gear in 2000, it was double everything I did on Wall Street. It was amazing.鈥�

Winding down in his life, Garr felt like it was time to give back.

鈥淭he entire reason for teaching at 网红头条is to give back,鈥� Garr said. 鈥淏ut for the grace of God, somebody like me, who comes from nothing, and my wife, who also comes from nothing, we鈥檝e been fortunate, and I want to give back to every single living, breathing student at KSU that I can.鈥�

Garr is known for going above and beyond, volunteering himself to students even after hours, and has helped a number of students secure prestigious roles in the business sector, whether by preparing them for an interview or looking over a resume. Outside of class, Garr is also involved in the KSU Student Managed Investment Fund, a student organization that provides real-time, hands-on experience in institutional portfolio management.

鈥淢y job is to make sure every student knows they matter,鈥� Garr said. 鈥淚 want every student to know that I'm going to do whatever I have to do to get them where they need to be.鈥�

Aniruddha Bagchi, chair of the Department of Economics, Finance, & Quantitative Analysis, said Garr brings a unique mix of industry experience and academic insight to teaching that truly enhances students鈥� learning.

鈥淗e鈥檚 deeply committed to helping students succeed and always puts in the extra effort to mentor, support, and inspire,鈥� Bagchi said. 鈥淗is collaborative approach and creative teaching style make him a valued colleague and a real asset to KSU.鈥�

鈥� Story by Amber Perry

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 网红头条 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. 网红头条is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 网红头条is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.