Name, degree(s), graduation year(s), current/previous work/position, location
Sherry Chan
B.S. in Mathematics and Actuarial Science (3/2001)
Executive MBA (6/2012)
Chief Actuary, State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (9/2007 – 1/2014)
Chief Actuarial Officer, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (1/2014 – 5/2015)
Chief Actuary, NYC Office of the Actuary (5/2015 – 1/2022)
Chief Strategy Officer, Atidot (12/2021 – Present)
Greater New York Area
How has your Ohio State education impacted your life and/or your career?
I’ve always had aspirations to use my math skills in a business setting to lead an organization. My education, extracurricular activities, internships, and connections made during my time at Ohio State has definitely prepared me for my career. My actuarial degree prepared me for the actuarial exams to become credentialed; my internships prepared me to embark on an actuarial career; and my presidency for OSU’s Actuarial Club provided me an early foundation in leading an organization, which was further fostered by my Executive MBA. Throughout all this, I’ve made countless number of friends, whom I still lean on for support – be it advice in navigating a difficult management scenario, helping in a campaign to run for the Society of Actuaries board, or needing an introduction/reference. The ROI on my time at OSU has been infinite!
Is there one specific memory or experience from your time at Ohio State that stands out to you?
In one of my actuarial mathematics classes, the professor gave us an option to skip the final. He wrote a range of points on the board that equated to an A, B, or C for the class. If your accumulated points for the quarter from your homework, quizzes, and mid-term yield a grade you were satisfied with, you could skip the final that was going to be the following week. If you took the final, you had the chance to get a higher (or lower) grade. My accumulated points was on the low end of an A. I studied very hard that weekend for the final and walked into the class the next week, ready to take the final. When I walked in, the professor took one look at me and asked why I was there. I said to take the final! He said, but you already have an A for the quarter. I said, oh, I thought because my points only added up to the lowest end of the range, I was going to get an A-, and I want an A. He said, no, accumulated points anywhere in that range will get an A. He then asked if I still wanted to take the exam. I said, well, yes, I studied my all weekend for this! I took the final and luckily still got an A for that class. The professor later shared with me that I put him in a very difficult spot by doing that because had I not gotten a good grade on the optional final, was he to still give me an A, or would he have to give me a lower grade? I’m glad I didn’t put him in that situation!
Is there a specific professor, faculty member, advisor or mentor who had an impact on you during your time at Ohio State?
Dr. Bostwick Wyman, who was the Director of the Actuarial Science Program was a very big advocate of mine. He supported my run for President of the Actuarial Club, he informed me of scholarships, and he wrote detailed recommendation letters for me. He supported me whenever I went to his office with a question or issue, but more importantly, he supported me when speaking to others, especially the actuarial employers that came to OSU.
What advice would you offer to current and/or future students in your department?
Actuarial exams will likely consume much of your 20’s, but the attainment of your Fellowship will be manifolds worth it. Be prepared for this; make a study schedule so you can be sure to get through the material you need, while allowing yourself time to enjoy your 20’s without studying it away. These actuarial exams don’t have that high of a pass rate, so if you don’t pass an exam, keep believing in yourself and persevere!
Also, a quote that I love, from Steve Jobs, is to “put one foot in front of the other with confidence in yourself and the expectation the dots will ultimately connect. You can’t see those connections in the moment…but you just have to know and believe they are out there somewhere.” As a student with a long career ahead of you, you may not know where your path is taking you. There may be twists and turns throughout your journey, but I believe that each day is an investment in your future and one day, you will look back and know how everything you invested in comes together.
What motivated your philanthropic support to the department/College and why should others consider giving back?
Behind every success, there’s a village that supported it, and I certainly am not an exception. It was my actuarial education that paved the way to my actuarial journey; it was the actuarial program staff that put in good words for me that opened up doors for my career; it was the scholarships that afforded me the opportunity to learn. The list can go on, but it all just says that nearly everything I have today is due in large part to my time at OSU. I am grateful for this and I want others to also have these same opportunities.
Anything else you would like to share?
My parents who were immigrants to the US, grew up during China’s Cultural Revolution. It was a time where assets and jobs were taken away from citizens, but my father explained to me that one thing that can never be taken away is the knowledge or education that one’s acquired. This has shaped me in many ways – from how I value education, as not everyone in this world gets the opportunity to it, to how I always have a thirst for it to this day, be it a book, a documentary, or even a conversation. Education will always be a part of me – I will always value it, be open to it, and hope to provide it to others.
