BGSU computer science alum named chief technology officer at Nationwide

As Michael Carrel ‘95 stood in the boardroom of Nationwide’s headquarters in downtown Columbus, he reflected on his journey from small-town Ohio to executive vice president and chief technology officer of one of the nation’s largest insurance and financial services companies.

Carrel grew up in Findlay, Ohio, and studied computer science at Bowling Green State University – never imagining the impact that decision would have on his life and career.

After more than 30 years with the organization, Carrel oversees a team of more than 7,000 full-time associates and contractors and a $1.5 billion budget.

“I would not be sitting where I am today as a chief technology officer of a Fortune 100 company without the experiences I gained at Bowling Green State University,” Carrel said. “Building a career in technology requires the ability to be able to learn.

“Bowling Green taught me about the importance of continuous learning in an ever-changing field ”

Carrel built his entire career at Nationwide, starting as an intern, getting hired full-time after graduation and then rising through the ranks to numerous executive-level positions.

Throughout his career, Carrel has remained a strong advocate for Bowling Green’s computer science program, one of the longest-standing in Ohio. Today, it’s a key computer science program that Nationwide recruits from because of the consistent quality of its students and graduates.

“What I love about students from Bowling Green is that they come in with a strong technical foundation. They understand the technology and the concepts,” Carrel said. “They also come in with the right people skills and relationship skills to work effectively in a team environment.

“Some universities might focus on preparing someone for a specific job. What we found is that students coming from Bowling Green State University are able to be successful in a long-term career.” 

Carrel is among many Bowling Green alumni who have built successful careers at Nationwide, where graduates hold positions ranging from entry level to executive leadership. Among them is AnnaMarie Cline, a 2025 BGSU computer science graduate who is now a senior software engineer on Nationwide’s mobile app.

She followed a path similar to Carrel’s, starting as an intern and then joining the company full-time after graduation. 

“Being able to work at Nationwide this early in my career means the world to me,” she said. “I feel endlessly lucky to be a part of everything they’re doing here.”

Even as artificial intelligence continues to reshape workforces across industries, Carrel said a computer science degree remains valuable in building a successful career in technology.

“A computer science degree in the time of artificial intelligence is still critically important,” he said. “The need for a strong technical foundation and how technology works is unchanged with artificial intelligence. Sure, the tools are changing and how you develop software is changing, but the core foundations of technology are needed now more than ever to be able to make sure you apply AI in an ethical way.”

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