Ohio Northern University alumnus Kevin Cramer, BSCPE ’11, is the kind of person who keeps digging when others settle for surface-level answers.
Curiosity has powered every step of his path, from a middle schooler teaching himself to code, to a college student diving into the “why,” to a senior software engineer at a global company.
“If you keep asking questions,” he says, “you eventually get to some really satisfying answers.”
In Kevin’s current role at Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA), his questions are centered on K-SIM, a proprietary software for which he develops front-end solutions. While it sounds niche, his work has far-reaching impact. K-SIM enables financial analysts to evaluate risk and reward for complex investments.
“It has the downstream effect of making people more secure in their retirements because their 401Ks and pension funds are more appropriately evaluated for risk,” he says.
Just 15 years post-college, Kevin is helping to reshape financial risk analysis and he’s still growing and learning. In recognition of his professional accomplishments and focus on service, Ohio Northern University is pleased to present Kevin with the 2026 William L. Robinson Young Alumni Award during Homecoming & Reunion Weekend.
From an early age, Kevin was primed to become a Polar Bear. He even has countless photos of himself as a toddler wearing ONU gear. His family has strong ties to ONU; his maternal grandfather, the late Rev. Dr. E. Eugene “Gene” Frazer, HonD ’80, was a United Methodist minister and Life Trustee at ONU.
Majoring in computer engineering felt natural given Kevin’s fascination with computers, which began in middle school when he purchased a C++ book and taught himself to code.
“I had this desire to know more and more,” he says, “and at some point, it became apparent that this was my passion. I was fortunate that my passion translated into a career path.”
At ONU, Kevin gained a solid foundation in engineering and computer science principles. In a field where many have a “boot camp” education in software development, he brings an invaluable engineering rigor to each project.
“Software is this weird field where you don’t need a ton of knowledge to arrive at a working solution,” he says. “But those working solutions could be lacking in a lot of different ways that are going to bite you down the road.”
In contrast, he strives for “elegant solutions” to complex problems. In other words, solutions that are comprehensive, well-conceived, and easily adapted as technology advances.
After graduation, Kevin worked in several industries, including eight years in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley collaborating with top tech minds. He and his family later returned to Central Ohio where he works fully remote for KBRA.
Married with two young children, he’s proud to have always prioritized his family and friendships with each career move.
Relationships have been a guiding force, he adds, stemming from his time in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at ONU. In fact, every professional move he has made stemmed from a personal connection, including an ONU alumnus who helped him find his first job right out of college.
“Greek Life helped me build an understanding of what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself,” he says, “and how, by working together as a group, you can accomplish bigger things than you ever could as an individual.”
Sept. '26