Natalie Scala ’05
B.S. Mathematics: 2005, John Carroll University
After graduation, I worked as an analyst at an electric utility company. I worked on rate strategy, which included performing pricing analyses for electricity distribution and acting as a company contact for outside firms.
I liked my job but chose to leave to enter a MS / PhD program. I am now studying Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, researching applications of Operations Research in Engineering Management. I use all my math courses—especially Probability, Statistics, and Operations Research—every day in my current studies. Also, the logic skills I learned from doing proofs have greatly helped me formulate research questions and models in my dissertation.
I really enjoy what I am doing, because I have the chance every day to use applied math and Operations Research skills to solve real problems in industry, especially in the management of people and company resources.
I would recommend majoring in math at JCU because there are so many more opportunities after graduation than what people usually think of. Many of the interesting applications and problems that I work on in Industrial Engineering use concepts I learned in math. Studying math also helps with logic skills, which are useful in any field.