Hello to all in the statistics world. I’m Jill Talley, and I recently joined the ASA as its public relations manager. While I’m new to statistics, I’m no stranger to the field of communications. Before the ASA, I worked in public policy communications for a trade organization that sought to expand nutritious health habits among students in the K–12 community. In the decade before that, I made a career working for associations, professional membership societies, and nonprofit patient advocacy organizations. I had the great fortune to work alongside subject-matter experts in areas such as food safety, mental health, cardiovascular care, and transportation and community development.
I graduated college in 2001, and though I didn’t quite know what I’d be doing professionally, I knew I didn’t want to return home to rural Pennsylvania and its cows, rainy days, and lack of economic opportunity. (Funny thing is, I now enjoy visiting for its refuge, peace and quiet, and, of course, my grandmother’s homemade cooking—a talent I did not inherit.) Since graduating, however, I’ve been able to give a voice to issues and causes that improve the quality of life for some of society’s forgotten and under-represented populations.
I’m mom to a busy four-year-old son, Joel, who, with his special needs, has taught me to walk slower and cherish life’s little moments. When I’m not at work, you’ll find me pacing the aisles of the grocery store, running circles on the playground, and lamenting my lack of a green thumb in the flower and vegetable gardens.
In the few weeks I’ve been at the ASA, I’ve read some intriguing articles about what statisticians do. Although my work behind the scenes likely won’t translate into the development of a new statistical model or identification of a new planet, that’s okay. I am excited to play a role in getting the message out about all the exciting ways statistics contributes to the world around us.
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