What do you do as a doctoral student?

I'm in my second year in the doctoral program at FSU, and I am in my final full semester of classes! I am currently working on my first research paper, where I'm studying insurer responses to catastrophic wildfires. In addition to this, I also assist faculty members with some of their research. Finally, I help Dr. Nyce with Risk in Business and Society (RMI 2302) as a teaching assistant. This summer I will teach my first class – Principles of Insurance.

Why did you choose the MS-RMI Program at FSU?

I chose the MS-RMI program at FSU because I knew I wanted a career change, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I was working as a commercial lines underwriter, and I thought learning more about the insurance industry would help me decide. I think everything worked out because I actually found I was interested in continuing my education and getting a Ph.D. in Risk Management and Insurance.

How did your graduate education help shape your professional experiences?

While I was working in commercial lines, I loved that I could directly apply what I was learning to my job. It made me more confident in my work. I also enjoyed making industry connections because it showed me the diversity the risk management field.

How has working in your industry changed the way you look at the world?

Besides making me severely more risk averse, I have started to understand how and why businesses operate the way they do.

How have you stayed connected to the FSU MS-RMI Program?

I don't think I can get away from it!

What advice would you give yourself in college?

Get more involved in school activities and take every internship opportunity available.

How do you handle work-life balance?

Someone shared this quote with me early in my career, and it has always stuck with me. "Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them — work, family, health, friends and spirit — and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls — family, health, friends and spirit — are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life." Brian Dyson

What keeps you awake at night?

I have three dogs - two snore and the third howls in his sleep!

What is one characteristic your co-workers dig about you and one that drives them crazy about you?

I'm sure it is different now, but when I was working in commercial lines my co-workers told me that they liked how patient I was. I think the thing that drove them crazy was all the hypothetical questions I would ask.