UT San Antonio Fall 2025 Commencement ceremonies are Dec. 15. This story is one in a series about the university’s outstanding graduates.
When Jordan Miller moved to San Antonio in 2012, returning to college wasn’t initially part of the plan.
After spending about a decade in the workforce, she found herself longing for a more fulfilling career. That search led her to UT San Antonio, where she discovered her academic passion along with a vibrant and supportive community, one that proudly reflects its city.
“The culture of San Antonio is tightly woven into the fabric of UT San Antonio,” Miller said. “San Antonio’s unique culture is celebrated across the city and on campus with events like Fiesta and Día en la Sombrilla.”
“But we are also a community of humility and service to one another, where scale never overshadows a sense of connection,” she added.
As a member of the graduating class of 2025, Miller will cross the stage this December with two bachelor of science degrees, one in mathematics and the other in statistics and data science.
But Miller’s return to college after 11 years came with unique challenges. In 2017, she suffered a traumatic brain injury that made learning and organization difficult. Through persistence and resourcefulness, Miller developed strategies to succeed, which included using digital tools to stay organized, meticulously managing her schedule and embracing imperfection.
“I’ve learned that I don’t have to be perfect at everything,” Miller said. “Disappointing grades are not failures. They’re opportunities to assess your understanding and revise your strategy.”
Math and stats
Miller restarted her academic journey by asking a simple but data-driven question. “What job fields offer the most employability and are needed everywhere?”
The answer she kept coming back to was statistics.
“Everyone needs a statistician, but very few people are willing to become one,” Miller said. “While studying statistics, I rediscovered my love for mathematics and added it as a second major.”
One of Miller’s favorite instructors is Jerome P. Keating, the Peter T. Flawn Professor of Management Science and Statistics in the College of AI, Cyber and Computing. She found his deep mathematical knowledge and expertise in applied statistics both inspiring and transformative, and she will always remember his academic insights and mentorship.
She also credits Mostafa Fazly, associate professor of mathematics, for inspiring her decision to study mathematics. His Foundations of Mathematics course opened her eyes to the logical underpinnings of the field, she said.
Additionally, Miller found inspiration from Eduardo Dueñez, associate professor of mathematics, who hosts the Problem-Solving Club, where weekly puzzles sparked her passion for mathematical thinking.
Hoping also to inspire others, Miller began working as an undergraduate teaching assistant in the Math Gym in May 2024 where she assisted students with their math assignments.
Outside of class and the Math Gym, she competed in the Rowdy Datathon, an annual weekend-long, overnight hackathon, where she placed second in the advanced track in 2024.
Miller also participated in the Najim Strategist Program, where she worked as a consultant to develop business solutions for local nonprofits.
She is an active member of several academic organizations, including the Stats Club and the Association for Computing Machinery.
First prize
During summer 2024, Miller collaborated with David Han, Romo Endowed Professor and associate professor of statistics and data science, on a project titled, “Weighing In: Examining the Surge in GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Exposure Calls to Poison Control Centers Following FDA Approval for Weight Loss.”
The study won first prize for best undergraduate poster at the Los Datos Conference, hosted by what was then the School of Data Science, now the Center for Data Science, and provided insights into an emerging public health issue.
After graduation, Miller plans to pursue a master’s degree in mathematics or statistics and apply her skills in public service, particularly in epidemiology or climate science.
“Mathematics is really the study of everything,” she said. “Every science rests on mathematics. Discovering these connections makes you feel like you’re learning the secrets of the universe — and you are.”
For future Roadrunners, Miller’s advice is both practical and represents her own experience as an undergrad.
“UT San Antonio is the best value education in Texas,” Miller said. “From the wide array of extracurricular opportunities to the network of tutoring centers to health and wellness services, UT San Antonio offers an incredible number of resources to foster your personal growth and academic success.”
