Jacob Andre Took a Leap into AI and Machine Learning with UIC’s Master of Engineering Program

After 15 years as an actuary, Jacob Andre shifted to the fast-growing field of AI and machine learning. UIC’s Master of Engineering with a focus area in AI and Machine Learning program gave him the tools to make that transition successfully. From legal considerations and workflow improvement, the program prepared Jacob to apply his actuarial knowledge in new ways. Now, Jacob is part of a team in charge of building out AI at one of the largest insurance brokers in the U.S. 

In this article, he shares how UIC’s MEng program not only helped him shift careers but also prepared him for the expanding opportunities in AI, setting him up for long-term success in this dynamic industry. 

Can you provide a brief overview of your background? 

My background is in the property and casualty insurance industry. I’m a professional credentialed actuary, and after roughly 15 years in the industry, I was looking to make a career transition. I realized the profession was becoming specialized, and I did not want to be limited to that work. That’s when I decided to shift to AI and machine learning through UIC’s online MEng program. 

In my current role, I’m working in AI data science at the second-largest insurance broker in the U.S. My position is unique because it blends actuarial work with AI and machine learning. My team is currently focused on implementing AI within one company unit, but the goal is to expand its impact across the entire organization. There’s lots of space for growth, but the first step is proving the value of these innovations to the business. 

How has earning the online Master of Engineering degree given you an advantage in your field?  

The Online MEng program has been a huge benefit to my career. It’s already paid for itself in terms of salary, career status, and growth potential. It’s made a significant impact. I’m currently at the ground level of building AI for the second-largest broker in the U.S., which presents incredible opportunities. The career ceiling is far away, and there’s so much room for advancement. 

Specifically, some courses in the program were particularly helpful. One of the most beneficial courses was MENG 400: Engineering Law. It goes over legal concepts affecting the engineering profession. You work with a team of lawyers to draft contracts and to better understand how to protect intellectual properties.  My current role involves dealing with third-party vendors on behalf of insurance companies, and a lot of legal work is involved. That course gave me the foundation I needed to navigate those complexities. 

The course explained to me even more about AI, including how all the pieces go together, how agents function, and how I could apply my prior actuarial science experience to build AI-driven workflows. It wasn’t necessarily that we were building one AI model, it was more that we were deciding what tools to use to create a whole workflow. Without this course, I would not have had any idea how to make those things work together. 

What are the most valuable skills you gained through the MEng program, and how have they contributed to your current work? 

The Online MEng program has shaped the way I approach AI and data science by teaching me how to think through problems in a structured way. It’s not just about defining a problem. It is about defining the end goal, deciding on the right inputs, and then developing a solution using the broad set of tools I gained in the program. That mentality has been invaluable in my current job. 

Right now, my team is small, and our focus is on building AI infrastructure from the ground up. The level of expertise required is incredibly high. There’s no clear roadmap for what we’re doing because it’s so new and innovative. If another company has already solved a similar problem, they’re not exactly publishing it online because that’s a trade secret. So, I’ve had to take the core knowledge from the program and apply that to real-world scenarios where there is no step-by-step manual. 

One thing I especially liked about the program was how it encouraged staying up to date with AI developments. In class, we constantly learned about real-world applications and explored cutting-edge and foundational AI techniques. It made me appreciate that while newer AI models are exciting, older AI techniques, some developed decades ago, are still incredibly useful. The only distinction is that data digitization has allowed us to leverage it in ways that 20 years ago were not possible. 

Given the MEng program is online, how did you cultivate relationships with professors and fellow students?   

The online program encourages student interaction with Blackboard discussions and group assignments. The class discussions often revolve around research findings, news in the industry, and classroom topics, whereby students are allowed to exchange thoughts and opinions. While most communication happens through Blackboard’s forum-style system, these interactions create a sense of community. Over time, I developed relationships over the course of the semester with peers who shared similar interests. 

What advice do you have for prospective students? Why would you recommend the online MEng program at UIC? 

For prospective students, I advise brushing up on coding before you get into the program, especially if you don’t have a tech background. I was nervous about the programming aspect because I’m not a programmer, so I took a refresher course in Python through a community college before I applied. It was a budget-friendly means of transitioning back into the academic environment, particularly after 15 years of working in the field. It made me feel more ready and transitioned me into the master’s program much easier. 

However, that is not to say that UIC doesn’t do a great job of getting students caught up. The program includes an introductory course, MEng 404: Math Fundamentals for AI Engineers and Data Scientists, which was especially appealing because it provides instruction in Python, the industry standard for AI and ML calculations. The course covers all the essential math, statistics, and calculus concepts, along with the necessary prerequisites to help students get up to speed for the rest of the program. The professors are also very helpful. They have office hours, hand out code snippets, and respond quickly on Blackboard. I benefited from their help immensely, especially in the more challenging classes. 

One of the aspects that impressed me about UIC was the convenience and flexibility of the program. There were other programs I looked into with prerequisites that were difficult to fulfill unless I had gone to their school in the first place. UIC didn’t have that issue, making it much easier to start. The online format, eight-week courses, and strong faculty engagement were all significant benefits that made the program stand out.