Alena graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Mathematics, and additional honors
including the Dean’s List, Senior Honors Award in Mathematics, and Phi Beta Kappa.
She then completed an M.A. and Ph.D. in Statistics at Rice University, and did postdoctoral
work at the University of Michigan, developing statistical methodology for a new clinical
trial design, followed by two years of teaching undergraduate statistics classes.
After working at a wind energy company doing financial modeling and market analysis,
Alena found her current position as a Data Scientist in the Modeling and Analytics
Center of Excellence at Chevron in Houston, Texas. She first started in the Health,
Environment and Safety group there, developing predictive analytics to reduce the
occurrence of incidents. Currently, Alena applies statistical methods to challenging
problems across Chevron, including cybersecurity, reliability, and reservoir management. She
also developed and is teaching an Introduction to Data Science course for all of Chevron. Alena's
hobbies include sewing and traveling.
Mark started working at GM Financial in the Las Colinas office in Irving, Texas immediately
after graduating in 2015. He is a member of the reporting and analytics department
where he creates dashboards for risk management and financial forecasting. While GM
financial provides a large array of financial services, his office focuses on partnering
with dealerships to ensure financials and vehicle inventory are properly maintained.
Mark loves his work with GM in that it offers security in being the financial subsidiary
of the larger General Motors company but maintains a startup feel on a day to day
basis. He is currently applying for masters programs in data science. Mark states
that the skills he learned while in the Math department at UD more than prepared him
for both the corporate business world and graduate studies.
After Carol received her B.S. in Mathematics with a concentration in Computer Science,
she enrolled in a Math Ph.D. program at Rice University in Houston studying low-dimensional
topology. Her Ph.D. was awarded in 2004 and she then proceeded to complete a post-doctoral
fellowship at U.C. Davis in 2006. Currently Carol is a Professor of Mathematics and
Department Chair at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, where she lives with
her husband and four children.
Michael earned his B.A. in both Math and Philosophy, and joined Cistercian Preparatory
School in Irving, Texas right away upon graduation, teaching middle and high school
students. Cistercian prepares talented boys for their future by '
Tristan was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1988 and he and his family have called Texas
home since 2000. He was married in 2009 to his wife Grace, a graduate of Texas A&M
University, and proceeeded to receive his Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of
Houston in 2015. He currently teaches mathematics full time at the University of
Texas at Dallas. Tristan and his wife are also involved in the Reasonable Faith chapter
at UTD. Christian apologetics (reasoning, philosophy and evidence) are one of his
chief passions. His other interests include classical music, Lego building, and all
things Nintendo. Tristan shares that 'I would not go back and major in math anywhere
else. The context of a classical curriculum brings math to life in a way not possible
otherwise. My experience at UD daily influences how I teach math at a STEM-focused
college, and by God's grace has made me a much better teacher.'
Erika 
Words of Wisdom, Advice Bolster Educators Now Teaching from Afar
In our current condition, with most of the U.S. sheltering in place and/or learning and working from our homes, it's hard to imagine that just 20 days ago, teachers and those aspiring to be teachers gathered together for the fourth annual Excellence in Education conference at the University of Dallas, organized, run and sponsored by UD's Education Department, but so they did, and so we will all do -- gather together, that is -- some day again.
+ Read More