Alumni Network
Our Mathematics and Statistics alumni are proof that numbers open limitless possibilities. From actuaries and educators to researchers and analysts, our graduates apply their University of Michigan-Dearborn mathematics and statistics degrees to make an impact across industries and around the world. In these stories, you’ll hear how their time in the program shaped their problem-solving skills, inspired their career paths, and helped them achieve their goals, all while reflecting on their favorite memories and experiences from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Explore where a Michigan degree in mathematics and statistics can take you, and be inspired by those who’ve charted the path ahead.
Autumn Tashman
Major: Actuarial Math; minor in Accounting and Hispanic Studies
Current Career: Actuarial Analyst - Pricing
Employer: Ally Financial
What is a relevant professional achievement, milestone or accomplishment? Having passed 4 actuarial exams and just recently sat for my 5th!
What are your hobbies and personal interests? I love playing soccer with friends, traveling (with Spain and Italy on my bucket list), and I’ve recently picked up both knitting and crocheting! My goal is to learn how to knit a sweater!
What are your skills and areas of expertise? Since beginning my career, I have developed a skill set in python and SQL. At Ally, I worked as a Reinsurance Operations analyst, where I gained in-depth knowledge on what reinsurance is, the types of reinsurance structures, and insurance accounting. I am currently working as a Pricing Actuary, where I’m responsible for building adequate rates for a variety of the insurance products that my company provides.
How did your degree help you in your career field? There were several aspects of my degree that helped set the foundation for my career path. One thing to note about the actuarial career path is that the learning curve for understanding the steps to become a credentialed actuary is steep, and actually working through these steps is steeper. Luckily, the classes required by the actuarial math degree at UM-Dearborn provide the building blocks needed to begin the journey! To become a credentialed actuary, students need to pass a series of exams that require in-depth understanding of different mathematical and statistical concepts. I found the course curriculum covered by the actuarial math degree to play an essential role in giving myself a wide range of knowledge to prepare myself for these exams (courses like calculus 1-3, probability theory, financial mathematics, time series analysis, etc). Commitment to individual study hours is the most crucial part to passing an actuarial exam, and the professors in the actuarial department helped me understand and achieve this by devoting their time and effort to helping me and the other students in the department succeed. Furthermore, they curated timelines for each and every student on their course path and when to begin studying for exams, and this combined with keeping all the actuarial students updated on upcoming career events is how I was able to land an actuarial internship role with Ally Financial, where I am fully employed today.
As an actuary, passing at least 1-2 actuarial exams is typically a minimum requirement for entry level roles and even internships, on top of having (or working toward) an actuarial math bachelor’s degree (or related field). The exams are sometimes seen as more important than the degree itself, as these exams are tailored to work that actuaries do on a daily basis and shows that candidates have the ability to apply these mathematical and statistical concepts to challenging actuarial scenarios. However, obtaining the degree was how I was able to learn and build my skill set.
What did you like best during your time at UM-Dearborn, and what is your fondest memory? I built lifelong friendships through the actuarial math department, not only with my peers, but also with my professors! I loved the tight-knit community that UM-Dearborn provides in its math department, as this gave me the opportunity to build relationships with my classmates and professors, and it also gave me time to ask one-on-one questions with my professors to get the most out of my education. My favorite memory had to be the moment I found out I passed my first actuarial exam. The first person I texted the minute I walked out of my exam room was none other than Michael Dabkowski, who spent hours out of his week for weeks on end to help me and two other actuarial students study for Exam P. He and Mahesh Agarwal were my biggest cheerleaders throughout my exam progress, and it was always so validating having educators wanting to see us succeed!
Katrina McKay
Major: Mathematics with a Secondary Teaching Certificate
Current Career: Mathematics Teacher
Employer: Redford Union High School
What is a relevant professional achievement, milestone or accomplishment? I was recently awarded Staff Member of the Month for October 2025
What are your hobbies and personal interests? I enjoy Bowling and doing Arts & Crafts in my spare time.
What are your skills and areas of expertise? I am currently in the process of pursuing an MA in Educational and Instructional Technology from Western Michigan University
How did your degree help you in your career field? Having my BS in mathematics prepared me for the MTTC teaching skills test and for my everyday lessons as a teacher.
What did you like best during your time at UM-Dearborn, and what is your fondest memory? My fondest memories at UM-Dearborn were the activities I went to on campus and also meeting people through work, class, events, and organizations.
Blake Hanson
Major: Actuarial Mathematics
Current Career: Actuary
Employer: Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
What is a relevant professional achievement, milestone or accomplishment? I became an associate of the society of actuaries (ASA) in April 2025. The UM-Dearborn program helped me get here through coursework and additional actuarial exam prep
What are your hobbies and personal interests? I enjoy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, volunteering at my church, and spending time with my friends and family.
What are your skills and areas of expertise? I’d focus on my pharmacy knowledge as it is a quickly growing part of actuarial science. It is my job to do two main things: (1) audit pharmacy payments to ensure our members get the most savings and (2) consult with clinical pharmacists to reduce costs and turn their ideas into savings values.
How did your degree help you in your career field? This degree from UM-Dearborn helped give me a better understanding of what actuaries do and helped me get my credentials through exam prep and support.
What did you like best during your time at UM-Dearborn, and what is your fondest memory? I like my friends and professors the best. The major was super small when I graduated so we were a tight-knit group. I still get together with them all a few times a year.
Emilee Gootee
Major: Mathematics, with a minor in Applied Statistics. I also received my Master's in Applied and Computational Mathematics.
Current Career: Associate Actuarial Analyst
Employer: Auto-Owners Insurance
What is a relevant professional achievement, milestone or accomplishment? I have presented my findings of a state's rates to multiple members from the Board of Executives, the Regional Vice President, and multiple others.
What are your hobbies and personal interests? Some of my hobbies include crocheting, playing video games, baking, and reading.
What are your skills and areas of expertise? I have a strong mix of soft and hard skills. Through multiple University jobs, I have achieved incredible communication skills, conflict resolution, and a readiness to take the lead. Furthermore, I am a strong problem solver, analytical thinker, and have creative solutions.
How did your degree help you in your career field? My degrees helped me establish a strong foundation in multiple fields of mathematics and an analytical mindset. From this foundation, I have been able to dive into the world of actuarial studies. It proved to my employers that I can process and understand numbers in both theoretical and computational ways. Through on-the-job training and an analyst's intuition, I have been able to excel through training and keep striding forward into more responsibilities and challenges.
What did you like best during your time at UM-Dearborn, and what is your fondest memory? The best part of my time at UM-Dearborn is definitely the relationships I was able to foster with classmates, professors, and faculty. With a small University and even smaller classes, it made connecting with others easy and being on campus so much more fun. Knowing that I have a friend or mentor ready to help at any time was so relieving and helped me with my studies more than any other advice or classwork ever could. I'm not even sure I could pick out just one memory. Joining my friends in common study areas to go over homework was always better than doing it by myself. Joining Professor Jabusch in her office to go over my homework and learn more about typing in LaTeX. Joining half my class (and all my friends) in Professor Dabkowski's office hours and even staying after he left to continue discussing class material. Joining Professors Hristova and Viswanathan for GGM every summer. Being surrounded by people and life made college what it was for me.
Join our Alumni Network
Stay connected long after graduation! The Department of Mathematics and Statistics alumni network is a vibrant community of professionals, scholars, and innovators who share a passion for problem-solving and lifelong learning. Join our network to reconnect with classmates, mentor current students, celebrate achievements, and collaborate with fellow Dearborn Wolverines making an impact in their fields. Once a part of CASL and our department, always a part of the equation.