“Shenandoah provides a unique environment for the college experience,” said Timothy G. Deitz ’84. “The [class] size allows students to form close relationships with teachers, as well as with other students, that may not be possible at large universities.”
Deitz wanted to go away for college to study music, but didn’t want to go not too far from his home, so Shenandoah was the perfect place. While at Shenandoah, he was involved in various activities including Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, playing in a saxophone quartet, the Wind Ensemble, the Jazz Ensemble and being a member of the Men’s Basketball team, for a brief time. He also met his late wife, Janet Kelsey Deitz ’84, the very first day he was on campus and they had their first math class together. “I continued taking math classes, so I could take them with her and eventually got a degree in math, myself,” said Deitz.
Deitz received his Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1984. His experience at Shenandoah was so instrumental in his life that he is excited to spread the positive word of ĻӰ through his membership on the Alumni Board of Directors. He wants to share his stories of his time on campus with prospective students in hopes to help them in the decision making process of where to go to college.
During his final semester of classes, Deitz took a teaching position at in Purcellville, Virginia, so he was a full time student and a full time teacher. After graduation (and marriage), he accepted a position at in Miami, Florida, as the band director, math teacher and varsity softball coach. Then he went on to work in the actuarial profession for , formerly known as American Bankers Insurance Group.
“After several years, I left American Bankers and joined , in order to relocate back to Virginia and then to an actuarial consulting firm, Chalke Inc, that specialized in actuarial software” said Deitz. “From Chalke, I moved to , the largest actuarial consulting firm in the US. As I worked in the profession, I learned that I could utilize my education degree in a unique way, teaching actuaries software and complex mathematics.”
He is currently a principal in Milliman’s Life Technology Solutions practice where he is in charge of software support, training and client relationship management. The most rewarding parts of Deitz’s career is helping others and mentoring actuaries who are just beginning their careers. He recently has been mentoring a young man from Ghana who just earned his master’s degree at the University of Waterloo, Canada.
“Helping others, showing empathy and partnering to solve clients’ problems has been the cornerstone of my career,” said Deitz.
Deitz believes that his skills in team building and passion for customer service excellence will be a good asset to the Alumni Board of Directors.
Deitz is also an associate in the and a member of the . Outside of work, he is a member of the City of Fairfax Band and Fairfax Swing Band. He and his wife had three children, Dr. Kelsey Deitz Guth, Kayla Deitz and Dr. Michael Deitz. In 2015, Janet passed away after battling lifelong health issues. His daughter Kelsey and her husband, Matt, have blessed him with two grandchildren, Emerson and Henley. “I spend a lot of time with them, as well as the rest of my family, who almost all live in Virginia,” said Deitz.