Honor a Member with a Legacy Page

Richard C. Zink, JMP Statistical Discovery

There are people who leave a lasting impact. My grandfather was one such individual. He exuded joy and led with love. He exemplified service: He was the first to volunteer and the last to leave. He brought out the best in people and moved them to give of themselves, to lift up others. He was humble. He was funny. And not a day goes by I do not miss him.

Dionne Price also made a lasting impact—on her family and friends, at Emory University, at the US Food and Drug Administration, within the Biopharmaceutical Section, at the American Statistical Association, and on our discipline.

I collaborated with Dionne on steering committees for the Biopharmaceutical Section and Biopharmaceutical Section Regulatory-Industry Statistics Workshop. I also had the honor of interviewing her twice for the Biopharmaceutical Section podcast—once when she served as section chair and again when she was president-elect of the ASA. I am grateful our paths crossed, even for those brief periods. I grieve with those who feel Dionne’s absence, and I grieve for those who never had the opportunity to know her.

It is incumbent on us to share Dionne’s influence. Her story. Her legacy. This is why it is my sincere privilege to announce a new initiative—ASA Legacy Pages—to honor members of the ASA who leave an enduring mark on our discipline and society. And it brings me great joy that Dionne is the first recipient of a legacy page made possible by donations given in her memory.

An ASA legacy page is a new way to celebrate our profession and the individuals who enrich it. First, it is a meaningful way to honor a colleague, collaborator, mentor, professor, friend, or loved one and the impact they have had on the statistical community. Second, it provides financial support to the programs and initiatives of the ASA, thereby promoting the practice and profession of statistics.

Anyone can begin a campaign to set up a permanent legacy page on behalf of another individual, alive or deceased, subject to the following requirements:

• The honoree must be (or have been) a member of the ASA.
• The honoree must be in good standing with the ASA’s Code of Conduct. The ASA reserves the right to remove a Legacy Page if the honoree has violated the code.

Once a campaign reaches $5,000 in donations, the honoree receives a legacy page on the ASA website featuring a photo, brief essay describing their accomplishments, and list of individuals who contributed to the campaign.

Campaigns may be started with the individual’s involvement so the honoree can direct donations to a particular ASA fund or cause. Alternatively, campaigns may be developed without the individual’s knowledge as a surprise for an upcoming event. Finally, campaigns may be initiated in remembrance of an icon in our field who has passed.

A legacy page is conferred upon raising $5,000, but there is no time limit or ceiling for donations. Larger amounts are welcome to benefit a specific cause or a range of activities within the following areas:

• Showcasing the impact of statisticians and improving statistical literacy
• Advocating for statisticians and the proper use of statistics among policymakers
• Cultivating future leaders in statistics, data science, and artificial intelligence
• Improving K–16 statistics education

Anyone may serve as a campaign lead on behalf of an ASA member, past or present.