I’m very pleased to introduce a new blog series called “SAS Loves Math!” This series will feature interviews with SAS employees who simply love math.

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking: of course SAS loves math! We are, after all, an analytical software company. But what often goes unmentioned is the fact that for many SAS employees, math is not only an integral part of their jobs, but a serious passion. For example, many SAS employees hold advanced degrees in math or statistics, but you might never know it based on their position. Others have worked in fields such as physics, engineering, math education and more before their careers at SAS. Given how instrumental math and statistics are to our success as a company, we are happy to recognize this oft-unnoticed mathematical zeal.

As part of my summer internship, I’ll be interviewing SAS employees who specialize in many different kinds of math and use math in a variety of ways, both at work and at home. These employees perform a multitude of functions at SAS, from research and development to marketing and sales. You’ll learn about their backgrounds in mathematics, how they use math in their jobs, who their favorites mathematicians are, and just what it is about math that makes it so irresistible, among other things. Over the next few months, I’ll publish these interviews here on the SAS Voices blog.

Let me also be the first to say that I am not a numbers person, but talking to people who are always intrigues me. Whether math eludes you or enraptures you, I hope you’ll enjoy reading these interviews as much as I enjoyed doing them. I’m excited to share their stories with you because I believe they reveal a side of SAS that is frequently seen but seldom heard. I’ve already learned a lot from the experience. And who knows? You may be surprised to find out just who at SAS loves math!

A secondary goal of this series is to promote the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education Coalition and opportunities for careers in STEM. As a proud STEM partner, SAS encourages you learn more about SAS and STEM, and check out the STEM Coalition site for more information.

If you know someone at SAS who really loves math, nominate them for an interview! Just email me at dylan.sweetwood@sas.com or leave a comment on this post.