Biography
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2001, with undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics. I originally intended to be a chemist, but a couple of unpleasant chemistry-related internships encouraged me to pursue a career in mathematics instead. A little bit of research introduced me to actuarial science, and I took an actuarial position at Northwestern Mutual where I worked on long-term care insurance pricing. However, my lifelong passion for teaching motivated me to enroll in the actuarial science graduate program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in which I was accepted in 2002. After six fun and challenging years, I earned a PhD in Actuarial Science, Risk Management and Insurance in 2008.
Between 2008 and 2015, I was an Assistant Professor of Actuarial Science in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I taught various undergraduate courses meant to prepare students for each the preliminary exams of the Society of Actuaries, but was primarily the instructor for the life contingency course sequence. I have passed all of the preliminary examinations of the Society of Actuaries (the modern day equivalents of Exams P, FM, M, and C). I received various honors and awards for teaching excellence at the University of Illinois; most notably, I was honored with the N. Tenney Peck Teaching Award in Mathematics in 2011. I have also published in actuarial and risk management journals, including the North American Actuarial Journal and the Risk Management and Insurance Review.
When I am not working, I like to travel around the world and experience a wide variety of cultures. Some of my favorite vacations have been in Tokyo, Japan and in Copenhagen, Denmark. I am also a huge movie buff, and am especially fond of the suspense thriller and science fiction genres.
Research
Presentations
Society of Actuaries Annual Meeting (2005) Is the US Health Care System In or Near Crisis?
Teaching
Undergraduate Courses
Actuarial Mathematics II (ACT 651), Spring 2016. Download Syllabus
Continuation of Act Sci 650. Joint life probabilities,annuities and insurances; multiple-decrement theory; pension fund mathematics.
Actuarial Mathematics II (ACT 651), Spring 2016. Download Syllabus
Continuation of Act Sci 650. Joint life probabilities,annuities and insurances; multiple-decrement theory; pension fund mathematics.
Business Analytics I (BUS 365), Spring 2016. Download Syllabus
Actuarial Science Methods (ACT 300), Fall 2002.
Develop a knowledge of fundamental mathematical tools for quantitatively assessing risk. Emphasize the applications of these tools to problems encountered in actuarial science.
Actuarial Science Methods (ACT 300), Spring 2002.
Develop a knowledge of fundamental mathematical tools for quantitatively assessing risk. Emphasize the applications of these tools to problems encountered in actuarial science.
Actuarial Science Methods (ACT 300), Fall 2003.
Develop a knowledge of fundamental mathematical tools for quantitatively assessing risk. Emphasize the applications of these tools to problems encountered in actuarial science.
Actuarial Science Methods (BUS 300), Fall 2003.
Develop a knowledge of fundamental mathematical tools for quantitatively assessing risk. Emphasize the applications of these tools to problems encountered in actuarial science.
Actuarial Science Methods (ACT 300), Spring 2003.
Develop a knowledge of fundamental mathematical tools for quantitatively assessing risk. Emphasize the applications of these tools to problems encountered in actuarial science.
Actuarial Science Methods (ACT 300), Spring 2004.
Develop a knowledge of fundamental mathematical tools for quantitatively assessing risk. Emphasize the applications of these tools to problems encountered in actuarial science.
Actuarial Science Methods (ACT 300), Spring 2005.
Develop a knowledge of fundamental mathematical tools for quantitatively assessing risk. Emphasize the applications of these tools to problems encountered in actuarial science.
Actuarial Science Methods (ACT 300), Fall 2005.
Develop a knowledge of fundamental mathematical tools for quantitatively assessing risk. Emphasize the applications of these tools to problems encountered in actuarial science.