Welcome
My name is Debra Ray. I have an M.S. degree in applied economics from the University of Maryland, where I learned a variety of statistical methods used in causal inference and prediction. I received my B.A. in political science with an international relations emphasis and a minor in economics from the University of Arizona.
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I’m currently available for data analyst roles. Not only do I have a solid understanding of statistics, but I can create reusable programs in Python using object-oriented programming and improve processing speeds with multithreading. Moreover, my SQL skills are highly advanced. Check out my personal projects to see my skills in action!
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If you’d like to learn more about me, browse through the site. If you see something you like, or you want to discuss what I can do for you, feel free to drop me a line.
Faith keeps me going even when things get rough.
Debra Ray
My Bio
Who I Am
From a young age, I’ve always had a sense of motivation and passion driving me forward. Whether it’s exploring unique opportunities, learning additional skills, or meeting new people, I bring these values to every experience throughout my life on a personal and professional level. To learn more about me, keep exploring my site or reach out directly.
My Skillset
Competence & Aptitude
Computer Programming
Python, SQL, Stata, VBA, Git, JavaScript, Windows Task Scheduler, Amazon Web Services (Currently Studying)
Statistics
OLS, Panel OLS, Logistic Regression, Time Series, Bayesian Probability, Regression Discontinuity, Differences-in-Differences, IV Regression, Propensity Score Matching, Synthetic Regression Design
Research
Statistical Methods, Exploratory Data Analysis, PowerPoint Presentations, Public Speaking, Team Collaboration
Experience
What I’ve Done
February 2021 - Present
Research Consultant, Edgemont Group & more
Freelance ad-hoc Python data analysis and research projects including customer segmentation, customer lifetime value, and predictive modeling. Created a customer lifetime value model in Python using the Lifetimes package.
November 2019 - March 2020
Volunteer Python Instructor, Código Ecuador
Código Ecuador is a nonprofit organization working to promote technology skills and computer programming careers for high school students in Ecuador, with a focus on female empowerment.
May 2018 - February 2019
Senior Research Associate, Hanover Research
Hanover Research provides high quality, custom research, and analytics through a cost-effective model that helps clients in the corporate, education, and healthcare sectors make informed decisions, identify and seize opportunities, and heighten their effectiveness.
December 2016 - February 2017
Economic Data Intern, Market News International
Market News is a financial news organization focused on international capital markets.
February 2016 - December 2016
Research Associate, The CoStar Group
The CoStar Group is a commercial real estate research company that provides market insights to real estate professionals and boasts 9 out of the 10 top real estate companies in the United States as clients.
Education
Educated in economics, statistics, math, and world affairs.
August 2016 - November 2019
M.S. Applied Economics, University of Maryland
A carefully designed program offering rigorous training in quantitative analysis, economic modeling, and econometrics. TFE Times nationally ranks the University of Maryland's master's program in applied economics as the #2 top economics master's program.
January 2010 - December 2014
B.A. Political Science, University of Arizona
The School of Government and Public Policy is one of the largest schools at the University of Arizona and is uniquely situated to serve as a model for public affairs education. The SGPP engages in high-caliber research, teaching, community outreach, and civic leadership.
"Do not go where the path may lead. Instead, go where there is no path and leave a trail"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Reading
Take a look at some of the books that I have read.
Economics
Law and Macroeconomics by Yair Listokin
The Courage to Act by Ben Bernanke
The Shifts and the Shocks by Martin Wolf
Flash Boys by Michael Lewis
Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty
Avoiding the Fall by Michael Pettis
The Great Rebalancing by Michael Pettis
The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier
The Leaderless Economy by Peter Temin and David Vines
The Price of Inequality by Joseph Stiglitz
This Time is Different by Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff
Making Globalization Work by Joseph Stiglitz
Globalization and its Discontents by Joseph Stiglitz
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Other
Almost Human by Lee Berger
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The House with Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Siddharrta by Hermann Hesse
The Fall by Albert Camus
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Self-Taught Programmer by Cory Althoff
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