ACAS: November 2014
Candidate Information
Education:
BA in Mathematics from Texas Christian University – May 2005
MA in Actuarial Science from University of Texas at Austin – May 2008
Current Employment:
University of Texas at Austin
Title: Professor of Instruction
Additional Role: Actuarial Program Assistant Director
CAS Activities and Publications:
Volunteer Chair and Presenter for the CAS Academic Summit Planning Team: 2025 – present
University Engagement Committee: 2013 – present
- CAS Student Programs Task Force: 2021 – present
- CAS Summer Program Working Group: 2020
- Academic Working Group: 2014 – 2017, (chair) 2017 – 2020
- Brand Implementation Task Force: 2013 – 2015
CAS Academic Central: 2014 – present
Facilitator and Presenter at CAS General Insurance Teaching Summit in Malaysia: 2024
- 1st talk: “CAS Teaching and Learning Resources for Universities”
- 2nd talk: “Bridging Theory and Practice: Case Studies for Hands-On Actuarial Learning”
Co-presenter for CAS at the 58th Annual Actuarial Research Conference: 2023
- Title: “CAS Resources to Help Prepare Your Students to Be the Next Generation of Property/Casualty Actuaries”
Co-presenter for CAS at the 54th Annual Actuarial Research Conference: 2019
- Title: “Case Studies and Case Competitions: Tools to Provide Real World P&C Examples”
Mentee to Dave Cummings in CAS Mentor Program: 2018 – 2019
Presenter of the “Warranty Case Study” for CAS at GIS 47th Annual International Conference: 2018
CAS Ambassador at the USAMO Mathematical Olympiad Award Ceremony: 2016 – 2018
Co-presenter for CAS at the 52nd Annual Actuarial Research Conference: 2017
- Title: “Case Studies and Case Competitions: Tools to Provide Real World P&C Examples in Your Class”
Co-presenter for a CAS Academic Webinar: 2017
- Title: “CAS Resources to Facilitate On-Campus Actuarial Case Competitions”
Employment History - Prior Employers:
Huston-Tillotson University – Instructor of Mathematics: 2011 – 2012
The Hartford – Actuarial Assistant: 2008 – 2011
Membership and Activities in Other Organizations:
Presenter for Mathematical Association of America Virtual Event – “So, You Want to Be an Actuary”: 2021
- Title: “Timeline: From Present Value to Future Value”
Presenter at the 54th Annual Actuarial Research Conference: 2019
- Title: “Professionalism in Actuarial Science – Part II”
Presenter at the 53rd Annual Actuarial Research Conference: 2018
- Title: “Professionalism in Actuarial Science: Teaching Our Students to be Actuaries, Not Just Test-Takers”
Presenter at the 53rd Annual Actuarial Research Conference: 2018
- Title: “Exposing Actuarial Students to Property & Casualty Insurance”
Civic Activities:
Camp Mitre Peak volunteer (2023 – present)
Actuarial Representative on Career Panels
Other Publications:
“Actex Interactive Study Manual for CAS Exam MAS-II”, Pai/Walch/Li/Lo
Awards and Recognitions:
2024 Stanley J. Roux, Jr. Excellence in Experiential Teaching Award, UT Austin: 2024
- For my work with the UT Austin Actuarial Case Competitions, where students work on simplified versions of real actuarial work.
CAS New Members Award: 2020
- For my work on the CAS University Engagement Committee and CAS Student Central Summer Program (shout out to Erin Olson for her incredible work leading the team!)
John R. Durbin Teaching Excellence Award, Math Dept., UT Austin: 2018
I truly believe in the CAS as the industry leader and gold-standard for Property & Casualty insurance, and I appreciate the member-driven approach (collaborative work is my favorite kind). I have been a CAS volunteer since 2013 and a member since 2014. I feel ownership in the society and want to help it succeed.
As an FCAS who works in academia, I have a different perspective on the pipeline and early candidate experience than actuaries in industry. Because I’m in an advising/teaching role, instead of hiring, my students can and do give me their candid opinions on the career, exams, and P&C discipline. I also attend 1-2 academic actuarial conferences a year, where we discuss innovations in actuarial education, implementing updates to the actuarial exam pathways, and trends we’re seeing in our respective actuarial programs. In recent years, the topic of shrinking actuarial program enrollments has come up frequently, along with corresponding data, trends, causes, and potential solutions. Through these conferences I have built a network of academics at other institutions, who I consult with regularly to get their opinions and insights on what’s going on with the CAS and SOA in terms of exams and university engagement.
Not only do I network with academics, but my job has also given me the opportunity to network with practicing actuaries who hire our students. From them, I hear about the current needs of today’s actuaries which inform our curriculum, such as increased EQ and predictive analytics. My interactions with employers influence decisions I make for my classroom, because we have the same goal in mind, preparing students to be successful actuaries. Similarly, I believe the CAS Board should listen to its members with an open mind, letting their actions be influenced by what they hear, for the benefit of the society.
To ensure that we’re giving our students at UT Austin the most relevant actuarial education, it’s imperative that we are aware and knowledgeable of the industry and credentialing process with both societies. So, I have to stay up to date with both the CAS and SOA. Since knowing what your competitors are doing is important for strategic decision making, having a big picture view of both societies is advantageous for someone on the Board.
Several people have asked me over the years if I’d be interested in running for CAS Board, and it didn’t feel like the right time until now. With the demands of teaching during the pandemic and going up for promotion behind me, I now have the capacity in my schedule to dedicate the time required to this volunteer opportunity. I am both honored to be nominated and excited at the prospect of serving the membership as a member of the CAS Board. I believe that the perspective of an actuary in academia, someone who is familiar with the university and student perspectives, would be a valuable addition to the CAS Board of Directors as it plans for the future and the next generation of actuaries.
CAS Pipeline
The SOA’s introduction of the University Earned Credit (UEC) program has increased competition between the two societies. Students at UEC universities commonly choose the SOA career path, simply because they have the possibility of getting exam credit from their classes and taking fewer exams overall. While many people and organizations have voiced concerns about this program, it doesn’t appear to be going away.
Additionally, enrollment in university actuarial programs has decreased significantly over the past decade. There are many reasons for this, such as competition from other fields like data science, a declining interest in math, and lower awareness of the actuarial science profession.
It’s imperative that the CAS maintains a healthy pipeline of P&C actuarial candidates. To do so, we need to address and respond to these threats to the pipeline, just as we’ve done in the past, without compromising the value and integrity of our credentials. I’m hoping that my background in academia can provide a valuable perspective that represents universities, candidates, and the CAS.
AI Opportunities and Ethics
Artificial intelligence is here to stay, and its impact on insurance and actuaries is inevitable. One thing that I love about our profession is its dynamic nature. Actuaries today are answering questions that didn’t exist 20 years ago, and actuaries in the future will be answering questions that don’t exist today. The CAS is already researching AI and actuarial science, and it needs to continue to do so to establish best practices and ensure that AI is being used ethically in our profession.
Insurance Image/Reputation
Justified or not, insurance has a bit of an image problem. In recent years, the pandemic, inflation, supply chain disruptions, and natural disasters linked to climate change have led to increased premiums and cancelled policies in the P&C industry. As we all know, insurance plays a key role in providing financial stability to policyholders during times of significant loss, but that’s not how the general public sees it. The CAS should consider ways to educate policyholders about the value of insurance.
