About Me

MY LIFE MOTTO: "Statistical Thinking, Human Impact"

🌍 WHO I AM

Hi, I'm Michael Okanta — a Ghanaian-born statistician, data analyst, and public-impact thinker. I'm passionate about turning raw data into clarity, direction, and meaningful decisions.

I recently completed my MSc in Statistics at Miami University, where I was juggling teaching undergrads and taking my classes by day and student questions by night (as a Graduate Teaching Assistant). Whether I'm modeling mortality trends, evaluating actuarial tests, or designing dashboards, I’m always chasing one goal: to make data useful — for people, not just numbers.

My background blends public health, finance, and academic research, but what ties it all together is this: I care deeply about impact, access, and clarity.

💼 WHAT I’VE WORKED ON

  • 🩺 Digitized pandemic surveillance at the Ghana Health Service — trained health staff, streamlined vaccine reporting, and improved data integrity during COVID-19.
  • 💰 Built financial dashboards at Ghana Exports & Imports Bank — used SQL and Excel to automate reconciliation workflows and deliver real-time business insights.
  • 🎓 Led classroom research at Miami University — modeled how student engagement impacts faculty evaluations using multilevel statistical techniques.
  • 📊 Visualized national data — analyzed literacy gaps and mortality trends and turned raw datasets into accessible, decision-ready dashboards.

🧠 RESEARCH & MACHINE LEARNING

My work sits at the intersection of statistical modeling, machine learning, and real-world complexity. I’ve:

  • Simulated the performance of GoF tests on Burr mixture models for actuarial science (yes, p-values can be misleading).
  • Peer-reviewed advanced statistical research for the Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation as an invited graduate student reviewer.
  • Applied deep learning and feature selection techniques for MRI-based cancer detection and plant disease segmentation.

I work fluently across R, Python, SQL, SAS, JMP, Excel, Power BI, Tableau, and a full arsenal of modeling and reporting tools. Whether I’m automating workflows or building predictive models, I bring both academic grounding and practical instinct to every project.

🎓 EDUCATION

As mentioned earlier, I recently completed my MSc in Statistics at Miami University, where I was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Students Award in April, 2025, in recognition of my outstanding academic achievements, all while teaching undergraduate statistics as a Graduate Assistant. My research explored the reliability of p-values under heavy-tailed and truncated distributions, culminating in a paper selected for presentation at conferences in Toronto and the Ohio Academy of Sciences.

Before that, I earned my BSc in Mathematics (First Class Honors) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana — the place where I fell in love with proofs, patterns, and possibilities. During my undergrad years, I developed a strong foundation in linear algebra, probability theory, and real analysis, and began applying data thinking to public systems.

I completed my high school education in Ghana at the Achimota School, where I built the grit, curiosity, and drive that still fuel my work today 🇬🇭📘.

🔭 SIDE PROJECTS & PASSIONS

I love creating tools that make data come alive — dashboards, visual reports, and clean interfaces that invite exploration. Some of my favorite projects:

  • Premier League Dashboard: because data is more fun with football.
  • Leading Causes of Mortality in the U.S.: data storytelling that saves lives.
  • Bank Churn Predictor: where machine learning meets customer behavior.

I also write reviews, contribute to research, and occasionally teach others how to turn messy data into clear insights.

⚽ Fun & Life

When I’m not analyzing data or reviewing manuscripts, you’ll likely find me watching football — and by football, I mean Chelsea Football Club. I’ve been a proud Blue for as long as I can remember. We recently lifted the Club World Cup — and yes, I’ve rewatched the highlights more times than I’d like to admit..

One of my favorite moments? Watching Chelsea play Manchester City live during a preseason match. It wasn’t Stamford Bridge, but the energy was electric — and it reminded me just how universal the game is.

I believe joy and curiosity fuel creativity. Whether it's through sport, travel, or a spontaneous playlist loop, I try to bring that energy into everything I do — especially my work.