Dixie Carroll

Dixie Carroll

Dixie Carroll didn’t arrive at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls as a traditional student, but she credits her time at the university with setting the stage for her successful career.  

When Carroll enrolled at UWRF in 1989, she was 31 and seeking a fresh start. She had moved from her hometown of Hayward and found her place at the university through tutoring students in math, her major. In addition to enjoying working with students, she developed a rapport with Math Department faculty and staff.  

“I was able to find a way to fit in with the people in the Math Department,” Carroll said. “We had a camaraderie. Sometimes it was fun to be with people who were closer to my age than the younger students.” 

Carroll graduated from UWRF with a math degree and then took a job at Ameriprise Financial in Minneapolis. She subsequently attended William Mitchell College of Law (today known as Mitchell Hamline College of Law) and passed the bar in 1997. But she didn’t want to work as a traditional lawyer. Instead, Carroll took a job with Ameriprise Financial doing compliance, then later legal work related to insurance and securities regulations.  

Most lawyers don’t have undergraduate math degrees, and Carroll credits hers from UWRF with helping her find her career path.  

“It served me well to have that math degree,” she said. “It helped me be able to better understand insurance policies and products. I feel that the analytical side of my brain helped me be able to interact with these analytical people, including actuaries, in a more effective manner.” 

Calling the work she has done “very challenging, complex and fun,” Carroll said she is thankful for a career she never planned on. Her time as a nontraditional student helped prepare her for unexpected opportunities that broadened her career, she said, noting “I certainly never expected to become a practicing attorney.”  

During a recent day on campus, Carroll recalled her college days and fond memories at various campus locations. She retired from Ameriprise in 2022 and established her own business, where she works part time examining insurance companies. She is a donor to the UWRF Math Department and in December 2021 she was named to the University Foundation Board of Directors. She said she has enjoyed rekindling her connections to the university.  

“Being here has made me realize how much I have missed this place,” said Carroll, who lives in Maple Grove, Minn. “A lot of changes have happened since I was a student here, and it’s fun to learn about the new programs. It’s like I’m back at school and continuing to learn.”