StatFest 2019 is a free one-day conference for undergraduates that is meant to encourage historically under-represented students (e.g., African-American, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander) with quantitative interests to pursue careers or graduate study in the statistical sciences. This year’s event will take place September 21 and be hosted by the department of biostatistics and data science at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

The conference will feature a Friday evening reception, short presentation on networking, and other networking-related activities to help participants appreciate and develop interpersonal skills not formally taught in the classroom. In addition, students will be inspired by a keynote speaker and motivated by engaging panel discussions that explore opportunities in statistics and data science across government, academia, and industry. Undergraduate students will also have an opportunity to engage in a candid Q&A with a graduate student panel that explores the highs and lows of the graduate student experience, how to prepare for graduate school, and advice for succeeding in graduate school. Students conducting research will have an opportunity to put their work on display during the poster session.

Brittney Bailey and Dionne Swift during StatFest 2018

Travel awards will be offered to a select group of registered students who are outside a 120-mile radius from Houston. Preference will be given to students who participate in the poster session.

The conference is an ongoing initiative of the American Statistical Association through its Committee on Minorities in Statistics (CoMiS). The committee seeks to foster participation in statistics by historically under-represented minorities in statistics. The committee focuses much of its effort on two key programs: StatFest, a pipeline program, and the Diversity Mentoring Program, an early-career success program.

Dionne Swift, CoMiS chair, says, “StatFest is a great opportunity for students to learn about different career opportunities in statistics and connect with professionals from under-represented groups. Hearing experiences of these career professionals can be tremendously motivating and may inspire students’ educational and career plans.”

Adrian Coles, StatFest planning committee chair, adds, “StatFest is more than an information-sharing session. It’s about connecting students from under-represented groups to a broader community and to developmental opportunities outside of their institutions!”

Participants mingle during StatFest 2018.

More than 150 participants attended last year’s conference at Amherst College. Approximately 47% were undergraduate students, 9% were graduate students, 6% were in transition, and 38% were professionals. Many of the professionals attended as representatives of their organizations in the exposition area, which provided student participants the opportunity to directly connect with graduate school representatives, hear about potential internships with government and industry, and learn about other career opportunities.

While the conference is free, registration is required. Visit the StatFest website at for more information and to register.

StatFest is made possible through the financial support of the ASA and several academic and industrial sponsors. If you have questions about StatFest, or if your organization is interested in supporting the event, contact Adrian Coles or Adriana Pérez.