Area of study: Mathematics
Graduation year: 2024
Who is your employer, and where are they located?
FMNE Insurance, based in Lincoln, NE
What is your job title and what kind of work does it involve?
Actuarial Data Scientist transitioning to Financial Data Analyst. In my actuarial role, I built predictive models to improve risk segmentation for Auto, Home, and Farm insurance products. In my new role, I will be building a new financial data framework to serve the entire finance department, and I will be working closely with the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) team to build future-looking financial analysis.
What sparked your interest in your area of study?
In high school, I really enjoyed math. I came into it thinking that math was all about solving known problems. As I started to explore the major, I learned that I really enjoy using math and data to inform business decisions. I think my interest really grew when I learned what a math major really was. It is less about finding a discrete answer to a known question, but rather creative problem-solving.
What do you see as the value of your major or CAS degree?
I think the biggest value of a math degree is the deep critical thinking skills that the major requires. It is a challenging degree, but once you are through the program, it signals employers that you can do difficult things and solve difficult problems, no matter what field that may be in.
Were there any other people, activities, or events from your time at UNL that helped you get to where you are now?
I was involved in Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS), which is an academic fraternity focusing on the insurance industry and risk management. The group primarily consists of actuarial students.
I also gave a handful of presentations for the Eastman Scholarships and the Math and Data Science departments. I went to a Lincoln high school and presented what a math or data science degree can do for them. I was really excited about this opportunity because I had no idea what a math degree could do until I began my career, and I wanted to pass on what I learned to a younger generation of students.
Tell us about the path you took to get to where you are today in your career and how you applied your education to get here.
UNL was the third college I attended. I previously attended two smaller schools while I was pursuing my collegiate baseball career. I decided to transfer to UNL for my last two years to focus on my degree. I transferred to Nebraska very late in the spring semester, so I missed any opportunities to apply to a summer internship through the traditional route. Unexpectedly, midway through the summer, I got an email from the Chief Actuary at FMNE Insurance asking if I'd be interested in interviewing for an internship. That one interview helped launch my career to where it is today.
From there, my career has flourished with FMNE. It is truly a company I hope to retire at, and where I feel like everyone I work with is family. I started as an Actuarial Intern and over the next few years, moved from Actuarial Assistant to Actuarial Data Scientist. I recently decided that I want to make a career change into corporate finance, and I am in the process of moving to the Finance department to begin growing its analytics capabilities.
I get the opportunity to come to work every day to work with people I genuinely enjoy working with, and I get to work on challenging problems that influence the direction of the company. A math degree from UNL has helped open so many doors for me to make a difference, and helped me find a rewarding and fulfilling career.
What are your future professional goals?
As I'm transitioning into the finance department at FMNE, I'm focused on learning as much as I can about corporate finance. I hope to shape how FMNE uses data to make informed decisions while bringing skills and tools coming from my math background and four years in the actuarial department.
