Ask ASA Executive Director Ron Wasserstein what his priorities are and he’ll answer, “Enhancing the diversity and breadth of our association, increasing the visibility of our profession, and ensuring the future of our profession.” These priorities come directly from the ASA’s Strategic Plan, the document that guides the leadership of the ASA in making decisions about the association and which was approved by the ASA Board at its November 2016 meeting.
In 2007, then ASA Vice President Bob Rodriguez led an association-wide effort to develop a strategic plan. That plan was approved by the board in 2008. It has been reviewed every year since and updated as needed. In late 2015, the board decided the plan needed an overhaul and asked Wasserstein to lead a comprehensive review and update of the plan. The current plan is the result of that year-long review.
“The ASA Board and ASA presidents have come to value the strategic plan as the map for moving the ASA forward,” said Barry Nussbaum, 2017 ASA president. “The plan provides guidance, but at the same time stimulates creative ideas to address our most pressing challenges.”
Wasserstein noted that ASA member input was critical to the development of the strategic plan. “The board received thoughtful input from many members during the past year,” Wasserstein said. “Each bit of member input was reviewed by the board, and the suggestions we received shaped critical components of the plan.”
To keep the plan fresh and relevant, the board will continue to review it every year, Wasserstein said. He encourages members to look at the plan, particularly the strategies, and make suggestions to him (ron@amstat.org) about ways to implement them.
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