Career Panel 2011

Michelle Amaral

Michelle Amaral grew up in nearby Modesto, California. In 1998 she graduated from University of the Pacific with a B.S. in Mathematical Economics and went on to receive an M.A. in Economics from University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in Economics from University of California at Davis. Her research focuses on empirical policy applications relating to health economics. Since completing graduate school she has been continuing her research and teaching in the economics department at University of the Pacific.

Kelly Mugerditchian

After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of the Pacific in December 2008, Kelly Mugerditchian started her career in Logistics with the Department of the Navy working as a civilian for Strategic Systems Programs (SSP). The D5 Trident II missile is the product of SSP, a submarine-launched ballistic missile that is the primary strategic deterrent of the United States. Over the past 2 years, Kelly has been working with the different re-entry body vehicles of the Trident II with supporting Flight Tests, providing data for long-range planning and supporting the buildup of the hardware.

Dustin Stewart

Dustin Stewart graduated from the University of the Pacific with a BS in mathematics in 2001. In 2005, he received his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Colorado in Denver, CO, with a focus in discrete mathematics. Dustin currently works for Microsoft in Redmond, WA, as a software development engineer. At Microsoft, he builds tools for the Bing Data Mining team. Before Microsoft, Dustin worked as a mathematician for International Game Technology in Reno, NV. There he created mathematical models of casino gaming machines. Before entering the world of private industry he spent a year as a visiting professor of mathematics at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX.

For information on working for Microsoft, visit: www.microsoft.com/university .

Rose Barrett, FCAS

Rose Barrett graduated from UOP with a BS in Mathematics in 1986. She taught high school math as an Intern Teacher for one school year in Tracy, CA, before becoming highly interested in a career in actuarial science. Rose began working as a casualty actuarial trainee in July of 1987 and began taking actuarial exams the same year. She attained the designation of Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society in 1995, and became a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society in 2005. Rose has worked as an actuary for the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, and is currently employed by Chartis Insurance, where she is the Western Zone Actuary. She and her staff evaluate casualty risks for large Fortune 1000 clients.