For Kent, Ohio, native and 2018 91ֿ graduate Stan Zalewski, mathematics has always been a big part of his life. Now a senior actuarial consultant at , Zalewski recently reached a significant professional milestone — completing the multi-year process to earn the title of Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS).
“It was exciting, and it felt like the end to a long road,” Zalewski said. “I actually started taking those exams back when I was at 91ֿ, so it’s been a nine-year process to complete those 13 exams.”
Earning a fellowship in the CAS requires years of exams and coursework. With more than 9,000 CAS members and over 80,000 actuaries worldwide, the FCAS designation marks a major step in an actuary’s professional development — one that builds on a foundation Zalewski began forming early, thanks in part to his experience at 91ֿ.
Growing Up in Kent
Zalewski grew up in Kent, where both of his parents also attended 91ֿ. His father operates a machine shop just outside of town, and his mother works as an accountant.
“I think about that as being the way that I got into math,” Zalewski said. “I kind of combined the two parts of their jobs: My dad does a lot of spatial diagrams, and my mom does a lot of spreadsheet accounting — I always knew I had that leaning toward math.”
After graduating from high school, Zalewski chose 91ֿ over other universities because of its familiarity and proximity to family.
“Kent was kind of a no-brainer when it came down to it,” Zalewski said.
Finding His Path in Actuarial Science
Though Zalewski entered 91ֿ with strong math skills, he didn’t initially know about actuarial science. That changed after orientation and his first few math courses, when professors introduced him to the field.
He pursued a Bachelor of Science in with a concentration in and added a Bachelor of Arts degree in . Along the way, he worked closely with faculty members, including Darci Kracht, Ph.D., who guided him through independent studies covering exam topics not offered in regular courses.
At 91ֿ, students are encouraged to take at least the first two professional actuarial exams — jointly administered by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS). These exams are challenging, with national pass rates hovering around 50% and typical preparation requiring 200–300 hours of study per exam. 91ֿ’s math department supports students by reimbursing exam fees for those who pass.
What set Zalewski apart was how far he advanced before graduation: he completed multiple SOA exams as an undergraduate, leaving him just one requirement shy of his Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) credential. After graduation, however, he joined Westfield Insurance — a property and casualty insurer — which meant pursuing the CAS pathway instead.
Building Confidence Through Support
Passing his first actuarial exam as a sophomore gave Zalewski the confidence to keep going.
“It was like, OK, I can actually do this,” Zalewski said. “My courses at 91ֿ have prepared me for this stuff.”
The university’s Actuarial Math Club also became a key source of encouragement and connection.
“It was a place where you could come to talk about the exam process, the classes we had going on and support each other,” Zalewski said.
Faculty mentorship also played a major role in keeping him on track.
“At some point I would feel overwhelmed by the stuff that I still had left to do,” Zalewski said. “But when I came and talked to some of the faculty and talked through the process of where I was, it was always super helpful, uplifting and added to my confidence level.”
Career at Nationwide
Today, Zalewski works as part of Nationwide’s enterprise risk team, focusing on property lines such as homeowners, commercial property and farm insurance. Nationwide employs nearly 250 91ֿ alumni.
His work involves analyzing catastrophe models — data predicting the impacts of hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires — and using that information to help set fair and accurate insurance rates.
“We want to be charging our members equitable rates to the risk that Nationwide is taking on,” Zalewski said. “Pricing is really all about balance.”
Advice for Future Actuaries
Zalewski encourages current and future 91ֿ students to take advantage of every opportunity — from clubs to faculty mentorship.
“Sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone,” he said. “You never know what specific things are going to draw your attention until they actually happen.”
He said the actuarial career offers a rewarding mix of independence and collaboration.
“It’s nice to get both senses of it,” he said. “You’re not stuck in a role where you feel like you’re in a cubicle and you’re not talking to anybody, and you’re not stuck in a role where you feel like you have to talk to people nonstop throughout the day.”
Looking Ahead
Now that exam prep no longer dominates his schedule, Zalewski is focusing on new goals — both personal and professional.
Last year, he married his high school sweetheart in Austria, and the couple plans to continue traveling. Professionally, he’s considering leadership opportunities at Nationwide.
“Not having to take a bunch of time off to study, I can now finally start to focus on [other things],” Zalewski said.