Ayanna Terry
OSU Mathematics | BS | 2014
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About Ayanna Terry
Quote:
"There were times when I wanted to quit and change my major; yet I used the adversity I faced to propel me through the math program. Ultimately, my four years as a math student taught me how to be resilient, cultivate mental/emotional fortitude and to persevere through life's challenges. Those are priceless life lessons that remain with me today."
- Ayanna Terry -
Education:
B.A., Mathematics, The Ohio State University 2014
Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Hometown:
Columbus, OhioCurrent Occupation:
Clinical Research Data Manager, The Ohio State University College of NursingProfessional Interests:
Longitudinal Data Analysis, Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)Hobbies:
Walking; Reading and Spending Time with my Family and Friends
My Math Story
I entered my freshman year of college with the intention to pursue International Studies. I’ve always had a passion for helping others and wanted to have a global impact as a policy maker. After completing my first math course, College Algebra, I quickly learned that I had a love for math. While College Algebra was the only math course required for me as an International Studies major, the class had been so interesting that I decided to take pre-calculus the following quarter. By the spring of 2011 I completed my first calculus class and decided that pursing mathematics was the best career path based on my interest.
I'm a problem solver at heart! I love a great puzzle and I find that mathematics is a perfect fit. I found that pursing math at OSU gave me the opportunity to explore ways that math could be applied to other disciplines from biological sciences to finance. Given the wide range of majors offered at OSU, I found it helpful to take course work outside of the math department as it helped me understand how I could utilize mathematical concepts to solve real world problems.
While I switched my major from International Studies to Mathematics, I never lost my passion for helping others. During my undergraduate career I searched for ways that I could use my math/analytical skills to help solve societal problems. During my senior year, I took a public health class where I learned how math/statistics can be used to address health disparities through research and data analytics. I decided that the field of public health was a wonderful way for me to apply my math skills and serve my community. I continued my education and in 2017 I earned my Master of Public Health with a specialization in epidemiology. Since then I've had the opportunity utilize my math/statistics skills to analyze data regarding tobacco cessation, nutrition education and evidence-based wellness interventions.
We live in a society that relies on quantitative data to make decisions which impact the lives of others. I’m honored to have the opportunity to apply my math skills to help analyze and interpret information that has the ability to broadly impact entire communities.