A Chambers College student can become anything. Like his father before him, Economics Ph.D. graduate Perry Ferrell became a carpenter.

A former Economics professor, Ferrell found himself growing tired of the sedentary lifestyle. Inspired to stand up and use his hands for something other than typing, he drew on a combination of what he’d learned from his father and what he’d taught himself to produce what he called the Pheral Desk.

“After completing the desk, I realized I had something scalable,” Ferrell wrote on his website. “I can't be the only person who wants a little class in their home office, right?"

That led Ferrell to start his own business, Pheral Designs, so he could bring custom furniture to consumers. With an emphasis on creating aesthetically-pleasing home offices, his signature products include standing desks and accompanying storage, as well as cabinetry and other custom furniture.

“The biggest benefit of my time in grad school was self-directed study,” Ferrell said. “There’s always a new skill to learn. I’m problem-solving every day, and the ability to teach myself, which the Economics Ph.D. program fostered, has been invaluable.”