In celebration of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, we are paying tribute to some of our Asian- and Pacific Islander–American members. These individuals have been chosen because of their meaningful leadership and commitment to the ASA.

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Ruixiao Lu

Vice President, Head of Statistics, Clinical Data Management and Data Science,
Quantum Leap Healthcare

What inspired you to become a statistician?
I am interested in how data can help us better understand the world, make good decisions, and help each other.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?
Own your career. Speak up. Don’t give up easily.

What are the most important qualities for a leader to have?
Integrity. Empathy. Accountability. Courage.

When traveling is possible again, where would you like to visit?
Many places, including JSM and other conferences, plus the ASA headquarters! I’ve missed the in-person interactions with my fellow statisticians, data scientists, and physician colleagues. I also would like to visit China, where some of my family members are living.

What is your favorite way to relax?
Reading with Pumpkin (my older cat) on my lap

Jing Cao

Southern Methodist University

What inspired you to become a statistician?
The perspective of using logical-statistical skills and working with people from diverse research fields. It is never boring.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?
Cultivate curiosity; be a life-long learner

What are the most important qualities for a leader to have?
Being able to motivate and bring people together; being organized and getting things done on time

When traveling is possible again, where would you like to visit?
Machu Picchu

What is your favorite way to relax?
I have been teaching myself piano for three years—very enjoyable and relaxing.

Claire Bowen

Lead Data Scientist, Privacy and Data Security, Urban Institute

What is the best career advice you’ve received?
Pursue what you love. This phrase sounds cliché, but many of us justify making decisions that we ultimately don’t want to do because it is what society says is successful. We define our own success.

What are the most important qualities for a leader to have?
Empathy and the willingness to “serve” others

When traveling is possible again, where would you like to visit?
Ireland

What is your favorite way to relax?
Running with my dogs or knitting

Ji Zhu

Professor, University of Michigan

What inspired you to become a statistician?
The opportunity to work with real data and make meaningful conclusions about real-life problems

What is the best career advice you’ve received?
Don’t be intimidated by people who are smarter than you. Anybody can do good research and make unique contributions!

What are the most important qualities for a leader to have?
Integrity and good communication skills

When traveling is possible again, where would you like to visit?
I’d like to go to Beijing to visit my parents. They are almost 80 years old and I haven’t seen them in more than a year.

What is your favorite way to relax?
Playing badminton with my 10-year-old daughter