Please join us in welcoming Lecturer Michael Okanta to the Department of Statistics

Michael Okanta joins the Department of Statistics this spring as a new Lecturer. Originally from Ghana, he comes to us with great experience as an undergraduate educator and a highly quantitative analyst. His professional history includes working in finance on the Data Analytics Team at Ghana Exim Bank and leading digital data management at a district level for the Ghana Health Service during the COVID-19 pandemic . Michael’s core belief is that "statistics should serve people", and he is eager to collaborate with the faculty here in Columbus.

Michael recently earned his Master of Science in Statistics from Miami University, and his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2021. His key interest is in applied data analysis, a field where he has collaborated on projects in diverse areas, including health, finance, sports, geography, actuarial science, and the like. When he's not teaching or modeling data, he is likely losing sleep watching his beloved Chelsea FC, a commitment he refers to as a "statistical outlier in personal dedication". He also enjoys going to the gym, staying active, exploring new places and discovering new restaurants with his wife, and cooking Ghanaian and American meals. As a first-generation college graduate and international student, he is dedicated to fostering inclusive classrooms.

Michael's main duties will be to support the department by instructing and coordinating undergraduate-level statistics courses. He is thrilled to become a part of our community here at The Ohio State University. You can reach him by email at okanta.1@osu.edu