Spencer Shepard, B.S. 2000
Senior Software Engineer, Affirm – Chicago, IL
2000 Major: Mathematics and Computer Science; certificate in Film & Video
How has being a Mathematics graduate from Duke helped shape you personally and/or professionally?
"Generally, a mathematics education teaches one how to break down a problem, tackle it via different techniques, and come up with a solution that can be verified. Professionally, at a fintech that deals with money movements and performance, being able to use this training to eliminate or isolate issues is a fundamental part of my career. Personally, I think financial planning, health, and exercise all take some amount of data analysis or problem solving that my education has helped me with."
What advice would you give students in Duke's Mathematics programs?
"A mathematics education is so fundamental to logical thought that it pairs well with a variety of other degrees but in general helps to inform a way to interact with and understand the world."
