Still uncertain just how far a Stetson education can take you in life? Double Hatter Tamara Clay just earned the position of Assistant General Counsel and HR Manager at the new and innovative, supersonic transportation company, Hyperloop Technologies, located in Los Angeles, Calif. Our recent Stetson graduate is about to start making science fiction fantasies possible in reality, and she was kind enough to speak with me about her new career.

Clay earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Stetson University College of Law in Tampa, Fla. While there, she was recognized with the distinguished William F. Blews Pro Bono Award and the Stetson University College of Law Leadership Certificate. Soon after, she enrolled in Stetson’s Executive Master of Business Administration Experience. This unique program offers experienced professionals from all academic backgrounds the opportunity to earn an E.M.B.A. degree in only 18 months while still working. From this dedication, Clay became one of the first 15 employees hired to Hyperloop Technologies, and she is excited to use her Stetson education to build up the company.

“As Assistant General Counsel and HR Manager, I rely heavily on both my law school training and Executive M.B.A. values-based leadership skills,” Clay said. “By having both a J.D. and M.B.A., I am able to perform in a dual role and provide additional value to the company.”

As Clay states, Hyperloop Technologies is advancing quickly, with their goal to have 100 employees by the end of the year. Hyperloop is one of the first startup companies to begin development on the science fiction notion of supersonic transportation. According to their recent feature in Forbes magazine, this train could rocket passengers and cargo from San Francisco to Los Angeles at 760 miles an hour!

“Imagine a world where employees can live hundreds of miles away from the city in which they work and yet have the ability to commute to work in minutes,” she said. “A system like this will lead to a lot of growth in shipping, real estate, and more. We are going to change the future of transportation.” The ‘hyperloop’ would be as fast as a plane while cheaper and more environmentally friendly than a train. Borders between states would ultimately dissipate and overcrowding of large cities would vanish, as the commute between New York City and Philadelphia would reduce to merely 10 minutes. As a self-classified tech geek, Clay was immediately fascinated by Hyperloop Technologies. She is excited to disrupt the status quo of current transportation systems and bring us into the future. And with the addition of Clay to the team, Hyperloop Technologies has a first-rate lineup to do so.

As a (soon-to-be) graduate, I am excited to see Tamara Clay, a dedicated and hard-working Hatter, receive such an opportunity to work with this futuristic company. As she told me, “I am so thankful that I moved to Florida to attend law school and later earn my E.M.B.A. at Stetson. Stetson provided a nurturing environment that helped me to obtain the confidence and skills I needed to elevate my career to the next level.”

I am proud to see every Hatter, like Tamara Clay, succeed in his/her goals. We all wish her well in this exciting move in her career.

By Kerstin Cook

International Studies major, graduating May 9, 2015