For Ashley Motley, what began as a childhood love of solving math problems — the “weird kid who enjoyed doing math homework,” as she puts it — has grown into a career at , a Cleveland-based health insurance company, thanks to scholarships, supportive faculty, and hands-on preparation at οƵ.
“There are so many different opportunities you can have with a mathematics degree,” Motley, a Product Line Analyst III, said. “You can go into finance. You can be an analyst. Even here at Medical Mutual, there are probably 10 to 15 different positions involving analytics.”
Motley explains that actuarial mathematics is essentially about measuring the risk behind insurance. At an insurance company, actuaries analyze factors – such as age and health status – that determine what coverage someone qualifies for.
“My job is really about analyzing data and helping to determine financial risk at its core,” Motley said. “But for me, what drew me into (this type of work) is all the different equations that you get to do with it.”
Choosing οƵ
When it came time to choose a college, οƵ quickly rose to the top of her list after a visit to the Kent Campus and finding out about the Choose Ohio First scholarship program, which is focused on helping STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) majors achieve success.
Building a Strong Foundation
Throughout her time at οƵ, Motley found her place in the campus community through a variety of study groups, clubs, events and volunteer opportunities. She graduated in May 2022 with a and a minor in .
“Being part of student groups definitely helped me feel like I belonged at οƵ,” she said.
At οƵ, Motley found exactly what she needed: courses that pushed her to think critically and faculty advisors who encouraged her every step of the way. She credits the rigorous academic coursework in the actuarial math program and her advisor’s keen career advice for ultimately guiding her toward a career blending finance and mathematics. Her classes in actuarial math also gave her valuable technical skills that prepared her for her career.
“οƵ did a really good job of preparing us with coding,” Motley recalled. “We learned Python, R, C+ and SQL — things I use every single day now. I've worked at three different companies so far and each and every one of those companies, the one selling point that has helped me progress my career as fast as I have is that I know coding, I'm able to pull data really quickly.”
From Classroom to Career
Even before graduation, Motley was already gaining professional experience in the financial services industry. She began at . as an intern in May 2021. By June 2022 — just as she was completing her bachelor’s degree — she was promoted into a Junior Financial Analyst role, where she worked full-time until early 2023.
Her next step took her to the , where she served as a Financial Analyst I and then moved up to Financial Analyst II. She then joined Medical Mutual as a Product Line Analyst III in 2024.
“Medical Mutual is just an amazing company to be a part of,” Motley said. “My role here helps the entire company as a whole in being able to decide which health plans can be more beneficial and which health plans are able to expand further. And, even for the average consumer, what's going to give them the best opportunities and best options of when they could get the most healthcare.”
One of her proudest achievements at Medical Mutual has been creating an accessible, story-driven dashboard that bridges complex financial data with clear insights anyone – from executives to everyday consumers – can easily understand.
“οƵ is a big part of Medical Mutual,” Brian Bourke, director of financial strategy and operations at Medical Mutual, said. “We have upward of 140 employees here that are οƵ alums, anywhere from finance to marketing to any other sort of operational area. They permeate the company.”
Volunteering in the Community
At Medical Mutual, employees participate in Share Day, a program that provides a full workday to volunteer at local charities. Recently, Motley’s team served at , a women’s and children’s shelter that offers housing, food, career classes and transitional housing to help families build stability.
“We helped assemble furniture for the newly built homes – 16 in total – that provide safe, beautiful spaces for women and their children,” Motley said. “While working, we also saw the on-site daycare, where kids can learn and play while their mothers focus on education and financial skills. Even at its simplest core, it was just beautiful seeing these children laugh because they get to be kids at this program and at this home. The experience was eye-opening and deeply meaningful, especially for the moms on our team, and it reminded us of the importance of safe, supportive spaces for families in need.
Reflecting on οƵ’s Impact
Looking back, Motley is grateful for the many ways οƵ supported her journey.
“The scholarships were huge,” she said. “They allowed me to focus on my studies and really take advantage of everything the program had to offer.”
But, most of all, οƵ helped her get out of her comfort zone, gain confidence in herself and taught her different technologies and tools to be able to present valuable information to executives and peers at Medical Mutual.
“I highly recommend it for the fact that you learn so much along the way about your career, but also about yourself,” Motley said. “I know for myself personally, being able to step away from my comfort zone of my hometown and my parents and my friends and kind of having to grow, I was able to meet so many new people and make those connections from a starting point. I was able to see the world in a different lens. And I really grew into myself.”