Mr. Ryker Lackey earned his B.A. in Economics and Biochemistry in 2018 and then his M.S. inFinance from Vanderbilt University. He was a Financial Analyst with CVS Health and is now anAssociate at Clearwater Group, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in federal, state, and localgovernment relations in Jackson. He was recently awarded “Top 40 Under 40” by the MississippiBusiness Journal.
What were some of your favorite memories at UM?
My most favorite memory at Ole Miss was meeting my (now) wife as a blind date for a Kappa Delta
date party on Valentine's Day in 2016. There were a lot of benefits to being a part of the Greek
System at Ole Miss, but meeting her was by far the best and my favorite memory. Another top
memory of mine from Ole Miss was getting to storm the field after beating Alabama in the 2014
season at one of my first games as an Ole Miss student. I appreciate the university being willing to
pay those fines!
date party on Valentine's Day in 2016. There were a lot of benefits to being a part of the Greek
System at Ole Miss, but meeting her was by far the best and my favorite memory. Another top
memory of mine from Ole Miss was getting to storm the field after beating Alabama in the 2014
season at one of my first games as an Ole Miss student. I appreciate the university being willing to
pay those fines!
My most favorite memory at Ole Miss was meeting my (now) wife as a blind date for a Kappa Delta
date party on Valentine's Day in 2016. There were a lot of benefits to being a part of the Greek
System at Ole Miss, but meeting her was by far the best and my favorite memory. Another top
memory of mine from Ole Miss was getting to storm the field after beating Alabama in the 2014
season at one of my first games as an Ole Miss student. I appreciate the university being willing to
pay those fines!
date party on Valentine's Day in 2016. There were a lot of benefits to being a part of the Greek
System at Ole Miss, but meeting her was by far the best and my favorite memory. Another top
memory of mine from Ole Miss was getting to storm the field after beating Alabama in the 2014
season at one of my first games as an Ole Miss student. I appreciate the university being willing to
pay those fines!
What has been your career/educational path since graduation?
After graduating from Ole Miss, I went on to Vanderbilt to get a Masters of Science in Finance through
their business school, the Owen Graduate School of Management. From there, I was recruited to join
Aetna/CVS Health as a financial analyst in their Third Party Revenue division. I worked for CVS for
about a year before my current firm approached me looking for someone to help them specialize in
healthcare policy. Since I joined Clearwater in 2021, I have worked on behalf of clients across almost
every industry and helped shape policy at the state level.
their business school, the Owen Graduate School of Management. From there, I was recruited to join
Aetna/CVS Health as a financial analyst in their Third Party Revenue division. I worked for CVS for
about a year before my current firm approached me looking for someone to help them specialize in
healthcare policy. Since I joined Clearwater in 2021, I have worked on behalf of clients across almost
every industry and helped shape policy at the state level.
After graduating from Ole Miss, I went on to Vanderbilt to get a Masters of Science in Finance through
their business school, the Owen Graduate School of Management. From there, I was recruited to join
Aetna/CVS Health as a financial analyst in their Third Party Revenue division. I worked for CVS for
about a year before my current firm approached me looking for someone to help them specialize in
healthcare policy. Since I joined Clearwater in 2021, I have worked on behalf of clients across almost
every industry and helped shape policy at the state level.
their business school, the Owen Graduate School of Management. From there, I was recruited to join
Aetna/CVS Health as a financial analyst in their Third Party Revenue division. I worked for CVS for
about a year before my current firm approached me looking for someone to help them specialize in
healthcare policy. Since I joined Clearwater in 2021, I have worked on behalf of clients across almost
every industry and helped shape policy at the state level.
What is the value of your liberal arts degree for your career and life?
My education has been essential in my role here at Clearwater. Having a strong background in both
science and economics has allowed me to dive headfirst into complex policy issues. Our clients have
a wide variety of needs and the day to day requirements for this job are drastically different each day.
Having a multidisciplinary background has prepared me to handle any task, and it prepared me to be
a quick learner for new topics.
science and economics has allowed me to dive headfirst into complex policy issues. Our clients have
a wide variety of needs and the day to day requirements for this job are drastically different each day.
Having a multidisciplinary background has prepared me to handle any task, and it prepared me to be
a quick learner for new topics.
My education has been essential in my role here at Clearwater. Having a strong background in both
science and economics has allowed me to dive headfirst into complex policy issues. Our clients have
a wide variety of needs and the day to day requirements for this job are drastically different each day.
Having a multidisciplinary background has prepared me to handle any task, and it prepared me to be
a quick learner for new topics.
science and economics has allowed me to dive headfirst into complex policy issues. Our clients have
a wide variety of needs and the day to day requirements for this job are drastically different each day.
Having a multidisciplinary background has prepared me to handle any task, and it prepared me to be
a quick learner for new topics.
How did you find the path to your major as an undergraduate?
I began in the Early Entry to Pharmacy Program with the goal of becoming a pharmacist. While
completing my degree, I worked extensively at a local pharmacy in Jackson. Although I value the
experience and my coworkers, I ultimately realized that a career as a pharmacist wasn’t the right fit
for me. At the same time, I was taking economics courses and found myself increasingly drawn to the
subject matter. Wanting to stay in the healthcare field while expanding my academic foundation, I
chose to pursue a double major in Biochemistry and Economics. That path allowed me to build on my
existing coursework while keeping a broad range of future opportunities open.
completing my degree, I worked extensively at a local pharmacy in Jackson. Although I value the
experience and my coworkers, I ultimately realized that a career as a pharmacist wasn’t the right fit
for me. At the same time, I was taking economics courses and found myself increasingly drawn to the
subject matter. Wanting to stay in the healthcare field while expanding my academic foundation, I
chose to pursue a double major in Biochemistry and Economics. That path allowed me to build on my
existing coursework while keeping a broad range of future opportunities open.
I began in the Early Entry to Pharmacy Program with the goal of becoming a pharmacist. While
completing my degree, I worked extensively at a local pharmacy in Jackson. Although I value the
experience and my coworkers, I ultimately realized that a career as a pharmacist wasn’t the right fit
for me. At the same time, I was taking economics courses and found myself increasingly drawn to the
subject matter. Wanting to stay in the healthcare field while expanding my academic foundation, I
chose to pursue a double major in Biochemistry and Economics. That path allowed me to build on my
existing coursework while keeping a broad range of future opportunities open.
completing my degree, I worked extensively at a local pharmacy in Jackson. Although I value the
experience and my coworkers, I ultimately realized that a career as a pharmacist wasn’t the right fit
for me. At the same time, I was taking economics courses and found myself increasingly drawn to the
subject matter. Wanting to stay in the healthcare field while expanding my academic foundation, I
chose to pursue a double major in Biochemistry and Economics. That path allowed me to build on my
existing coursework while keeping a broad range of future opportunities open.
Why study at the University of Mississippi?
The University of Mississippi offers an exceptional education that prepares students for success both
professionally and socially. Ole Miss offers degrees that can be tailored to help students pursue the
career of their dreams, and the alumni network is strong and engaged with the student body. The
academics at Ole Miss are great, but there’s more to Ole Miss than just learning in the classroom.
Without even trying, networking will become second nature to those studying at Ole Miss, and those
graduating will be extremely prepared for navigating any professional environment.
professionally and socially. Ole Miss offers degrees that can be tailored to help students pursue the
career of their dreams, and the alumni network is strong and engaged with the student body. The
academics at Ole Miss are great, but there’s more to Ole Miss than just learning in the classroom.
Without even trying, networking will become second nature to those studying at Ole Miss, and those
graduating will be extremely prepared for navigating any professional environment.
The University of Mississippi offers an exceptional education that prepares students for success both
professionally and socially. Ole Miss offers degrees that can be tailored to help students pursue the
career of their dreams, and the alumni network is strong and engaged with the student body. The
academics at Ole Miss are great, but there’s more to Ole Miss than just learning in the classroom.
Without even trying, networking will become second nature to those studying at Ole Miss, and those
graduating will be extremely prepared for navigating any professional environment.
professionally and socially. Ole Miss offers degrees that can be tailored to help students pursue the
career of their dreams, and the alumni network is strong and engaged with the student body. The
academics at Ole Miss are great, but there’s more to Ole Miss than just learning in the classroom.
Without even trying, networking will become second nature to those studying at Ole Miss, and those
graduating will be extremely prepared for navigating any professional environment.