Career Paths

My career path has been anything but linear. After graduating from UNCA in 2017, I interned as a data scientist at Mission Health before exploring nursing, insurance, and working as a mentor at a residential mental health program. In 2020, I joined NASA Langley as a contractor, working on data validation, analysis, and in-flight safety software for unmanned aerial vehicles. In 2022, I became a civil servant, shifting from aeronautics to space. The statistics courses at UNCA were crucial to my work at NASA, and research with Dr. Bahls helped me apply new mathematical concepts in real-world settings. Programming has been central throughout my career, and UNCA’s foundational coursework equipped me to adapt to languages like R, Python, and C++."

After studying Mathematics and Computer Science at UNCA, I spent a year in a PhD program before earning my MS in Computer Science. In grad school, I focused on algorithms, software engineering, and machine learning. I interned at Novo Nordisk, helping design a data analytics platform for clinical trial outreach, and now work at Katapult. UNCA’s supportive environment and enthusiastic faculty made a big impact. I appreciated the diverse curriculum—taking glass blowing and topology in the same afternoon helped keep me creative and engaged."

My work in machine learning involves minimizing cost functions with code, which means I rely daily on the calculus, linear algebra, and programming skills I gained through my degree. What I enjoy most is tackling unstructured problems—figuring out solutions, supporting them with evidence, and building plans to implement them. At UNC Asheville, I took courses across math, statistics, and computer science that all come together in my current role. More than just technical knowledge, UNCA taught me how to learn—giving me the tools to keep up with a field that’s always changing."

UNC Asheville prepared me to make an impact by placing me in classrooms early and often, allowing me to observe and learn in the very community I now serve. What I love most about teaching are the day-to-day rewards—building relationships with students and helping each one learn in the way that suits them best. It’s one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had, but it takes real dedication, both to your students and to yourself. UNCA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, especially in relation to Asheville’s underrepresented Black community, made my experience even more meaningful and helped prepare me to teach in an increasingly diverse public school system."

UNC Asheville’s mathematics program gave me the analytical mindset and problem-solving skills I rely on every day as a Billing Analyst. The combination of rigorous coursework, supportive faculty, and an accounting minor prepared me to navigate complex financial data with clarity and precision. I love that my current role blends technical analysis with real-world financial applications—whether I’m reconciling accounts or improving reporting systems, I know my work contributes directly to the success of both the firm and our clients.”