S. Rao Jammalamadaka

S. Rao Jammalamadaka, from the University of California at Santa Barbara, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Forest Sciences at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden, on October 6.

The citation reads, in part, “Professor Jammalamadaka is a well-known statistician with broad research interests which include both theoretical and applied statistics. His contacts with researchers in Sweden and at the Faculty of Forest Sciences over the past 25 years resulted in significant research with practical impact as well as several PhD theses at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.”

The award came with a doctoral gold ring, a ceremonial hat, and a diploma. Recent recipients include His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, and Ingvar Kamprad, Swedish business magnate and the founder of IKEA.

Jay Kadane

The Chicago Chapter of the ASA presented Jay Kadane, professor emeritus at Carnegie Mellon University, with the Statistician of the Year Award October 22 at the East Bank Club in Chicago.

Past recipients chose Kadane for his contribution to econometrics, political science, and medicine.

He is a proponent of using statistics to confront global issues. During the post-award dinner, Kadane spoke about repression of statistics in Argentina, where the government forbids statisticians from publishing inflation estimates that differ from their own.

Thomas L. Mesenbourg

Thomas L. Mesenbourg, acting director of the U.S. Census Bureau, received the Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership on October 22. Since 1978, American University’s School of Public Affairs has granted this award to more than 60 federal career executives in recognition of their federal service and dedication to the work and goals of government.

The award honored Mesenbourg for applying innovative solutions to the challenge of measuring America’s diverse and evolving population and economy. Under his leadership, the Census Bureau released its first mobile app, America’s Economy, which provides real-time updates for 16 key economic indicators released from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Bureau of Economic Analysis.

“Our employees have demonstrated that they can be engines of innovation,” Mesenbourg said. “Over the past several years, they have submitted hundreds of great ideas that save money and improve products and processes.”

Mesenbourg has been the acting director of the Census Bureau since August 12. He served as the deputy director and chief operating officer of the Census Bureau from May 2008 until August 2012. As deputy director, he was responsible for directing all the Census Bureau’s programs and its administrative functions. Prior to that, Mesenbourg served as associate director for economic programs. He joined the Census Bureau in 1972.

In 2011, Mesenbourg was the recipient of the Julius Shiskin Memorial Award for Economic Statistics. In 2004, he was the recipient of a presidential rank award, the government’s highest award for career executives.