Graduate Spotlight

– I am a 30-year veteran of the financial services industry having enjoyed stints with hedge funds, major banks, finance companies, and analytical firms. My roles have been focused around analytics for credit, operational, and interest rate risk management of consumer asset portfolios (like residential mortgage loans). At present I am a Portfolio Pricing Manager for U.S. Bank within the unit that quantifies the value of the Bank’s MSR (Mortgage Servicing Rights) asset.

– I am proud and honored to be an MS graduate in Statistics from TAMU Distance Learning. It’s a top-notch program, and here’s why: first, Texas A&M is a nationally-known and reputable institution, and the Statistics curriculum is comprehensive and rigorous. I turned myself inside-out to get through the coursework! Second, the program is well set up for working professionals, both at the program and class-taking level. The administrative staff was super helpful guiding me through my degree plan, and the technology (Howdy, Canvas, etc.) is such that switching from my work day and into class videos, hand-out downloads, Zoom sessions, assignments, etc. was easy. Third, the professors and instructors are beyond terrific. They are professional and dedicated, and I found them to be generous with patience and energy working with distance students. The TAMU Distance MS Statistics program is a quality experience, top to bottom and end to end.

– My personal story is one of retooling in the latter stages of my career. I started the MS program at age 52 when I was one of a gzillion mid/senior level managers in Corporate America. Already with a degree in Computer Science and an MBA, I was seeking to renew/harden my skills and stay relevant in today’s data-driven world. The Texas A&M MS Statistics program helped me accomplish that, and it had a direct impact in the hiring process for the job of Portfolio Pricing Manager which I accepted during my final semester (fall 2021). The hiring manager was impressed by the energy level needed to undertake and complete a graduate degree in Statistics – it helped win me my current job!

Phil Stolz is Vice President of Product Management & Product Development for the Engineered Materials Division. Phil has 20 years of commercial and technical experience and held positions with Mead Johnson Nutrition and Accuride Corporation before joining Berry Plastics in 2011 as Business Development Manager for the Rigid Closed Top Division. Phil holds BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, an MBA from Cornell University and a MS in Statistics from Texas A&M University. Phil, his wife and four children reside in Evansville, Indiana.

After being a stay-at-home mother of 15 years, I made the decision to continue my education and begin a career. After a lot of research, I felt that an advanced degree in Statistics would lead to the rewarding career I wanted. However, I lived in a very rural area, I still had young children at home, and my husband traveled frequently. These issues would make it nearly impossible to find a degree program that would work for me. Even in areas with many universities, quality Statistics programs are not easy to find. Plus, most Master’s programs are structured for working professionals with classes in the evening, exactly when I needed to be home. I had almost decided that pursuing this degree would be impossible. Then, I found the Texas A&M Master of Statistics Distance program. Simply put, it made one of the most well-respected Statistics programs in the country available to me at home. And so, I applied. As I prepared to start the program, I clearly remember the program administrator saying that this degree would open doors for us. I was hopeful, but skeptical. However, as I graduated with my MS in Statistics I found this claim to be absolutely true. Three weeks before graduation, I started my job search. I knew that competing in the job market would be brutal, with the average job search lasting about four months. Additionally, not only did I have no prior employment experience as a Statistician, I also had no substantial employment experience in any field. I had devoted the last 15 years to raising my family. So, I settled in for what I knew would be a long job search. Three weeks into my search, I was a little surprised to get my first interview request at the North American headquarters of a global telecommunications corporation. Because of the education I received through the distance program, I was able to confidently breeze through a very technical interview and was immediately offered a position on the analytics team. Several years later, I am proud to still be a part of the same company, not as a new professional, but as a successful leader and mentor. I directly credit Texas A&M’s MS Statistics distance program in preparing me for this career path. It has changed my life.

Lisa Szydziak, statistician for Northwell Health-Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, NY, received her B.S. in Mathematics from The State University of New York at Albany. She has 15 years Actuarial experience prior to her employment at the hospital. She pursued her M.S. Statistics degree online at Texas A&M University, and currently is a statistician at the hospital.

Quote:
“As a mother of two, working full-time and making time for my family, Texas A&M University’s online Masters of Science in Statistics afforded me the opportunity of a world-class education without the commute. The online aspect allowed me to manage school around my schedule. The experience of online learning at Texas A&M University was phenomenal and the technology supported seamless learning. I felt like I was in the classroom and truly part of a class. In addition, the professors were arguably the best ever.“