Student Spotlight
Ryan Crawford, a junior studying actuarial science and statistics, has made the most of his time at the Ivy College of Business and continues to maximize opportunities as he prepares for his future.
Born in Ames, Iowa, Crawford moved to Sioux City, Iowa, at an early age and graduated from Sioux City East High School. Both of his parents attended Iowa State University, so following in their footsteps and becoming a Cyclone was always on Crawford’s radar.
“For the longest time, I wanted to be a chemical engineer, and Iowa State was at the top of my list,” said Crawford. However, an 8th-grade algebra teacher told Crawford she thought he would make a great actuary one day. “I had no clue what an actuary was, so I went home, looked it up, and immediately fell in love with the profession.”
At that time, Iowa State did not have an actuarial science program, leading Crawford to look elsewhere to continue his education. However, during Crawford’s junior year of high school, the Ivy College of Business actuarial science program was jumpstarted by Rahul Parsa, a teaching professor in finance, providing a path forward for Crawford and other future actuaries.
“Thanks to Parsa’s passion and commitment to the field, I was able to come back to my birth town of Ames with confidence that Ivy would provide me with the resources I needed to succeed in the highly competitive actuarial field.”
While at Iowa State, Crawford has taken on various roles in campus organizations, such as vice president of public relations for the Gamma Iota Sigma/Actuarial Science Club, which has helped him gain valuable experience, expand his network, and create new opportunities.
Crawford is making the most of his time in college by getting involved across campus. He is an executive committee member for Letters of Love, a global nonprofit organization whose goal is to spread love by making handmade cards for children in hospitals. He is an advisory board member for the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) as the undergraduate representative. He is also an active member of the FarmHouse Fraternity, where he also serves as assistant treasurer and head of the physical committee.
“I think my biggest piece of advice to new students would be to use the resources available to them. The faculty at Ivy and Iowa State, in general, are fantastic and want you to succeed. Be proactive in your approach to your goals, and don’t wait until you’re struggling to ask for help.”
— Ryan Crawford
Off campus, an opportunity Crawford has taken advantage of was his internship with Great West Casualty Company in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Crawford worked as an actuarial intern and found his experience there to be nothing short of amazing.
“During my time at Great West Casualty Company, I had the privilege of working alongside a talented team of professionals who are truly passionate about the insurance and trucking industries,” he said. “From day one, I was immersed in challenging projects that allowed me to apply my classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. The collaborative and supportive environment fostered at Great West has undoubtedly provided me with valuable insights into the intricacies of actuarial science.”
Continuing to add to his professional experiences, Crawford has accepted an internship with Athene for the summer of 2024.
“I am eager to contribute my skills and passion for actuarial science to a company known for its commitment to innovation and excellence in the industry,” Crawford said.
With his list of accomplishments continuing to grow, Crawford shared some advice for incoming students on how to make the most of their time at Iowa State.
“I think my biggest piece of advice to new students would be to use the resources available to them. The faculty at Ivy and Iowa State, in general, are fantastic and want you to succeed. Be proactive in your approach to your goals, and don’t wait until you’re struggling to ask for help. Also, make friends with people in your introductory courses. You’ll likely see these people around Gerdin or other places on campus for the next four years. It’s always nice to have familiar faces surrounding you or to have people you know you can trust on a group project.”
Learn more about Undergraduate Business Career Services.
December 22, 2023
