Izzy Nau’s knowledge of probability has helped her to become undefeated in euchre with her friends. She also uses this same knowledge for other card games or games of chance.
Nau is a statistics major, computer science minor, and is working towards an actuarial science certificate before graduating in spring 2027.
Beyond card games, Nau can apply her field of study to solving problems and understanding research, “Statistics has taught me how to break down problems into pieces.”
She notes that she is now able to understand most research papers because of her understanding of statistics.
Nau took Advanced Placement (AP) statistics in high school, which helped her to decide her future major. She knows she has found the right fit when she solves a statistics problem, “When I do it right, I feel giddy.”
Some of Nau’s favorite professors and courses have helped cement the giddy feeling:
- Associate Professor Amy Froelich (Theory of Probability and Statistics II) explains why an equation or rule should be used in different contexts.
- Teaching Professor Laura Ziegler (Intermediate Statistical Concepts and Methods, Regression for Social and Behavioral Research) keeps courses engaging with interesting data sets, puns, and historical fun facts.
- Professor Ulrike Genschel (Computer Processing of Scientific Data) has been Nau’s best coding teacher, with engaging lectures and ways to practice the SAS coding concepts.
Nau encourages other students that, “Professors are not as scary as you think they are,” and adds to go to office hours.
Outside of coursework, Nau is Director of Finance for the National Residence Hall Honorary, Registration Chair for the Midwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (MACURH) 2027 Regional Business Conference, a member of the undergraduate statistics club, and a resident assistant for Wallace Hall.
Her favorite memory (so far) is seeing MatPat at AfterDark because, “He almost uses statistics sometimes.”
