A Journey Through Numbers

by Myah Gerding

As graduation approaches, Ryan Freidhoff reflects on his journey at Iowa State University. From his love of mathematics to his involvement in various professional development opportunities, Ryan’s path to becoming a math major has been anything but ordinary.  Ryan recently accepted a “dream position” as Business Data Analyst at SkyWater Technology in Bloomington Minnesota.  He also plans to continue his education, having been accepted to the online Master of Science in Analytics program at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Path to mathematics

Ryan’s love for learning—particularly mathematics—has been a constant in his life. Coming to Iowa State, Ryan was initially a Mechanical Engineering major but soon switched into the mathematics program. He decided to pursue a double major in applied mathematics and data science, adding a minor in physics, all of which align with the career path his family had often joked about when Ryan was young.

“Over the years it had always been a running joke in the family that I was destined to become a mathematician or a physicist and when I decided to switch majors my freshman year, I knew that my destiny was about to become reality” Ryan said.

After committing to the mathematics major, Ryan soon discovered that success wasn’t just about excelling in mathematics but about transferring his skills to other academic interests.   “I think it is one thing to excel at mathematics, but it is another to apply that to something you have a passion for. For me it was data science, and I will never forget the day I realized that.” Ryan said.

Looking back on his time at Iowa State, Ryan’s proudest moment wasn’t just an academic achievement, but a personal one.

“My proudest moment has been seeing my brother follow in my footsteps and study at Iowa State as well,” Ryan said.

“We counted our hours last finals week, and we studied on campus for about 70 hours between prep week and finals week. Seeing his dedication grow from mine was a proud big brother moment.”

Pursuing mathematics beyond the classroom

Ryan’s academic growth was complemented by two key internships that helped him gain hands-on experience in the field. His first internship was as a Data Research Analyst at Kingland Systems, LLC. In this role, he was able to sharpen his analytical and problem-solving skills. His second internship, with Milliman IntelliScript, was more data-intensive, where he worked with SQL, Excel, and PowerBI to analyze prescription and medical data.

“This internship was my first big-time opportunity that allowed me to fully immerse myself in the corporate world,” Ryan said, emphasizing the value of real-world experience.

Ryan’s time at Iowa State wasn’t just filled with coursework and internships. He was also actively involved in research. In his sophomore year, Ryan participated in the ISMART program, were he worked on a project called “Hearing the Shape of a Drum.” This experience gave him his first taste of research, applying critical thinking at a high level.

“It inspired me to pursue the second major in Data Science,” Ryan explained.

Currently, Ryan is collaborating with the Statistics department on a project that will help create a better power ranking system for NCAA Division 1 Women’s Volleyball teams.

Ryan says one of the most rewarding experiences during his time at Iowa State was his work on developing data science themed curriculum for future high school mathematics teachers.  This project provided Ryan with financial support through the Iowa Space Grant Consortium and facilitated his work with faculty and students at Iowa State and beyond.

“It was a small contribution, but it was really rewarding to help shape the future of math and data science learning,” Ryan said, explaining how fulfilling it was to give back to the academic community.  He presented—along with his collaborators—his work at the Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics annual conference in October 2024.

Set up for success

Thinking back on his undergraduate career, Ryan is grateful for the opportunities he’s had at Iowa State, both within the classroom and beyond.  In addition to his recent job offer and acceptance to graduate school, he won an individual award for “Top Q&A” at the US Bank Smart Money Idea Challenge.

“My involvement in research, Greek life, internships, and the community have allowed me to grow in all aspects of life,” Ryan shared. “I truly believe these experiences have set me up for success down the road.”