Mathematics Department
Union College has an active Actuarial Club that meets regularly and sponsors many campus-wide activities throughout the year.
The club officer are Wendy Pham (President) and Talha Khan (Treasurer).
Please check the Math Department Newsletter throughout the Winter '26 Term for news and events!
Meetings located in BH204, Tuesdays 2pm-4pm
2026 SOA Student Research Case Study
Our primary focus this term will be competing in the Society of Actuaries (SOA) Student Research Case Study Challenge. This is a prestigious global competition where teams tackle complex, real-world problems.
While the 2026 prompt is expected to be released later this month, we can look at the 2025 Challenge to see the kind of work we'll be doing. Last year, teams designed a national insurance program for earthen dams in the fictional country of Tarrodan, balancing environmental risk, regional GDP, and infrastructure safety. It is a fantastic way to apply what we learn in class to a high-level professional project.
Our Faculty Advisor
I am thrilled to announce that Professor Qian has officially accepted our invitation to be the faculty advisor for this project!
As many of you know, Professor Qian has an extensive understanding of actuarial science. Having her expertise to guide our methodology and review our findings is a huge advantage for our club. We are incredibly lucky to have her mentorship as we represent Union College on the global stage.
Why You Should Join the Team
We are looking for a dedicated group of students to work on this for at least 4 hours per week. This is a standout experience for your resume and a great way to:
- Master Technical Tools: Get hands-on with R, Python, and advanced Excel.
- Work as a "Consultant": Learn how to translate technical data into strategic recommendations.
- Network: Connect with peers and professionals through the SOA framework.
Next Steps: Interest Meeting
We want to get our team organized before the prompt drops. Please join us for a brief kickoff meeting to discuss our strategy and look over previous winning submissions.
- When: Thursday Jan 15th, 4-5pm
- Where: Math Common Room, Bailey 204
Whether you are a senior with multiple exams under your belt or a first-year just curious about the field, we need your perspective!
Let’s make 2026 a great year for ASC. See you there!
Past 24-25 Events Include:
The event is a presentation on the opportunity for students to participate in the 2025 SOA Research
Institute Student Research Case Study Challenge. Via the actuarial science club, students will be
able to compete as a team for a prize in a competition coordinated by the Society of Actuaries, where a case study is performed and submitted to a panel of judges. Mark Mortensen, Union class of 1985, a retired life insurance actuary for Liberty Mutual, is the speaker. He will be discussing the
benefits of the opportunity and providing information to the team(s) willing to participate on how best to attack the problem.
International Association of Black Actuaries Programming Events
Mary Annese ’05, an Associate of the Casualty Actuary Society working at Verisk, is on the
International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA) Corporate Advisory Council. She asked us to
help spread the word about some upcoming programming events – here you go! Click on the links
for more information about each program.
- Boot Camp: An intensive program designed to prepare students for internships and early
career success. This is an in-person program hosted in conjunction with our Annual
Meeting held in Washington DC. IABA covers participant hotel accommodations and
transportation. - Scholarship Program: Financial support for students pursuing actuarial careers.
Scholarship recipients also receive hotel accommodations to attend our Annual meeting in
Washington DC. IABA covers participant hotel accommodations and transportation. - Exam Prep: Resources and assistance to help students successfully pass actuarial exams.
Most Math Club meetings and activities are announced in the Math Department Newsletter. Please check there for news and information! For more information, please contact mathchair@union.edu
Past Club activities include:
- Seminars/Talks from Alumni working as Actuaries
- Presentations from nearby Actuarial Firms
- Learning Workshops teaching valuable skills (Excel, VBA, R, SQL, etc.)
- Test Practice Workshops
- Case Studies
- Interview Prep
- Off-Campus Conferences
