Welcome to the CAS Staff Spotlight, a column featuring members of the CAS staff. For this spotlight, we are proud to introduce you to Kate Niswander.
- What do you do at the CAS?
As marketing and communications manager, I work on initiatives designed to promote the CAS and the work of our members to external audiences. I help to produce press releases, communication plans and other vehicles to promote CAS initiatives, research and publications. My job is to help nonactuarial audiences make the connection between our members’ skill sets and the public issues in which actuaries can contribute valuable insight, such as climate change, automated vehicles and cyber risk. - What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the challenge of translating actuarial concepts and research into more universal terms. I like helping to educate people about the role that actuaries play in many of today’s most important business functions. I also love working with the CAS volunteers who serve on my marketing committees; they continually amaze me because they seem to have the best of both worlds — left-brain analytical skills with a right-brain eye for creativity. It’s truly a rare combination. - Hometown:
Buffalo, New York - College and degree:
The George Washington University, B.A. in French Language and Literature; and American University, M.A. in Strategic Communication. - First job out of college:
I was a coordinator at a media non-profit that worked to advance women in television and radio. - Describe yourself in three words:
inventive, personable, authentic. - Favorite weekend activity:
I recently completed a two-year graduate program that held classes on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Now I’m trying to remember what I used to do on weekends! - Favorite travel destination: France. I was a French major in college and I love everything about the language and culture. I wouldn’t turn down freshly baked croissants, either.
- One interesting or fun fact about you: I used to be a competitive tap dancer.
