Career Opportunities in Mathematics

Imagine having a job waiting for you upon graduation with one of the most innovative companies in the world. Sam Jentsch was a double-major in mathematics and computer science, and he joined Google’s ranks upon graduation. Jentsch worked hard during his time at SFA by participating in three internships, including one with NASA and another with GE Oil and Gas, where his innovation project won a first-place award. Jentsch worked as a tutor and a teacher’s assistant while at SFA. In addition, he was self-employed as a freelance developer. He was also active in several clubs and organizations: He served as president of the SFA chapter of Upsilon Pi Epsilon (computer science honors society) and was a member of the SFA Chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon (mathematics honors society).

Andrew brought his strong analytical and computing skills to Nacogdoches and worked with faculty on analyzing crime data with spatial point processes during the thesis phase of his time at SFA. With a knack for being able to solve particularly complex problems, Andrew worked in the Austin area as a statistical consultant before joining an emerging team of researchers at Schreiner University. With his group reporting straight to the university president, Andrew now enjoys work as an assessment associate in Kerrville with responsibility as the STEM institutional research analyst.

Interested in a career in energy trade? A degree in mathematics is a possible path to get you there. Ariel Barnett was a first-generation student at SFA, and she earned her Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 2014. She earned a Master of Science degree in finance in 2016 from a university closer to her hometown. During her time as a student, she served as a quantitative analysis independent consultant, completed a wealth management internship with Merrill Lynch and served as a risk management intern with Twin Eagle, an oil and energy company in Houston. Ariel now is an energy trade and risk management consultant at FIS Energy in Houston.

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, Chance Bradford enrolled at SFA unsure of a career goal. Although math was not his favorite subject as a high school student, he was inspired to enroll in math courses after taking an astronomy course, and he found his calling. As a teacher in the mathematics department at Nacogdoches High School, he now inspires high school students to excel. Chance graduated with a bachelor's in mathematics in 2013 and a master's in mathematical sciences in 2015.

Do you have a passion for the environment? A degree in mathematics can open the door to opportunities for you to solve contemporary natural resource problems. Our former graduate student Daniel Riser-Espinoza is doing just that. Daniel received his bachelor's in mathematics at Swarthmore College before coming to SFA to complete a master's in statistics in 2013. While working on his master’s degree, Daniel worked as a statistician for Curry and Kerlinger, LLC, and served as a national conservation crew leader where he worked with high school students during summer camps in Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park in California, North Cascades National Park in Washington, and Skagit Valley Provincial Park in British Colombia, Canada. Daniel currently holds the position of research biometrician for West, a company in Fort Collins, Colorado, that provides environmental and statistical consulting services and contract research nationally and internationally to industry, government and private organizations.

Kacey McCauley is a prime example of a Lumberjack who solidified his career options by studying mathematics, statistics and geology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. After receiving his master's in mathematical sciences with an emphasis in statistics in 2014, Kacey landed a job as a senior business analyst at EOG Resources, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Houston and one of the largest independent oil and natural gas companies in the U.S. In graduate school, Kacey worked as an adjunct professor of mathematics and statistics, teaching algebra, business calculus, and probability and statistics to undergraduate Lumberjacks.

Brittany Mitchell came to the East Texas Piney Woods by way of Northwestern State in Natchitoches, Louisiana. As an undergraduate math and statistics major, Brittany excelled as a problem-solver. As a graduate student, her research focused on combinatorics problems linked to discrete probability models.

After she earned her master’s degree, she took her skillset to St. Louis, Missouri, where she worked as a demand planning statistician for the well-known Nestle Purina company. She then returned to her native state of Louisiana where she has taught at a local community college and now works as financial controller for a casino.

Local standout Amber Chapman became known statewide in health and nursing analytic circles for her award-winning models to predict attrition in Texas’ nursing education programs. At the end of her tenure at SFA, Amber won the prestigious William R. Johnson Most Outstanding Thesis Award. Never one to back down from an adventure, Amber applied for and was granted admission to the exclusive U.S. Navy Nuclear Division after graduation. While serving in the Navy, Amber has been stationed in San Diego, California, and has enjoyed deployments to Hawaii, Singapore and Thailand.

Mathematics students often question what careers are open to them once they complete their degrees – and their professors typically say, “You can do anything with a mathematics degree.” Spencer Habluetzel provides proof of this statement. Spencer graduated with a bachelor's in mathematics in 2009 and a master's in mathematical sciences (emphasis in math) in 2011 from SFA. He then completed his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law and now is the owner of Legal Dynamics in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.