2025 Board of Directors
Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar,
President
Ji-Hyun Lee,
President-Elect
Nick Horton,
Third-Year Vice President
Jenny Thompson,
Second-Year Vice President
Susan Paddock,
First-Year Vice President
Kendra Schmid,
Third-Year Council of Chapters Representative
Melinda Holt,
Second-Year Council of Chapters Representative
Tomi Mori,
First-Year Council of Chapters Representative
Michelle Shardell,
Third-Year Council of Sections Representative
Jana Asher,
Second-Year Council of Sections Representative
Jennifer Parker,
First-Year Council of Sections Representative
Ingrid Van Keilegom,
International Representative
Antje Hoering,
Publications Representative
Jean Opsomer,
Treasurer
Ron Wasserstein,
Executive Director and Board Secretary
2025 Board of Directors
Ji-Hyun Lee,
President
Jeri Mulrow,
President-Elect
Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar,
Past President
Jenny Thompson,
Third-Year Vice President
Susan Paddock,
Second-Year Vice President
DuBois Bowman,
First-Year Vice President
Melinda Holt,
Third-Year Council of Chapters Representative
Tomi Mori,
Second-Year Council of Chapters Representative
David Corliss,
First-Year Council of Chapters Representative
Jana Asher,
Third-Year Council of Sections Representative
Jennifer Parker,
Second-Year Council of Sections Representative
Sharina Person,
First-Year Council of Sections Representative
Ingrid Van Keilegom,
International Representative
Antje Hoering,
Publications Representative
Jean Opsomer,
Treasurer
Ron Wasserstein,
Executive Director and Board Secretary
On Friday, November 22, ASA President Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar called to order the final 2024 meeting of the ASA Board of Directors. The board met at the ASA headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. Current board members were joined by the new members, who will take their seats January 1, 2025.
The third Influencing Discovery Exploration and Action (IDEA) Forum, with the theme “Trustworthy AI,” originated from the board meeting. Also, ASA Giving Day was launched at the beginning of the board meeting. Highlights of the meeting follow.
Actions
The ASA Board of Directors did the following:
- Approved in principle revisions to the “organizational leadership development” and “financial status” portions of the ASA strategic plan, with final modifications based on board feedback to be approved by the executive committee.
- Formally approved a change to Article V, Section 3 of the bylaws regarding procedure should a vacancy occur in the office of past president.
- Approved recommending bylaw and constitutional amendments to grant the treasurer voting rights on the executive committee, changing the position from its current ex officio nonvoting status.
- Endorsed the eighth edition of Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency (commonly known as “the purple book”), continuing a practice established in 2009. This quadrennial publication provides updated guidance to coincide with each new presidential administration.
- Approved the establishment of the Douglas A. Zahn Grant for Advancing Interpersonal Excellence in Statistical Consulting. The grant will support individuals committed to improving interpersonal skills among statisticians and data scientists.
Reports and Discussions
- Derek Curtis II, ASA director of finance and administration, reviewed the third quarter financials. He noted a change to the 2025 budget to adjust for increased section activities.
- ASA Treasurer Jean Opsomer presented the status of the ASA investment portfolio and reviewed the ASA’s investment policy for the benefit of incoming board members.
- Amanda Malloy, ASA director of development, shared the results of Giving Day and reported fundraising results and activities over the past year. Giving Day was a success, Malloy said. With it, we have raised well over $200,000 in individual support this year. She also informed the board that we have met the fundraising goal for the Dionne Price Public Lecture Series.
- Sharon Hessney, founding editor of “What’s Going On in This Graph,” highlighted this collaborative initiative between the American Statistical Association and The New York Times Learning Network as it concludes its seventh year.
- The board reviewed its processes for making public statements, providing a list of questions and concerns to the Scientific and Public Affairs Advisory Committee. SPAAC will consider the feedback and propose updates to the processes when the board meets in April 2025.
- Steve Pierson, ASA director of science policy, presented plans for the second-year follow-up to The Nation’s Data at Risk: Meeting America’s Information Needs for the 21st Century.
- Vice President Jenny Thompson and Council Vice Chair Anna Bargagliotti presented the Education Council’s annual report, highlighting key achievements and upcoming initiatives. Vice President Susan Paddock and Council Vice Chair Stephanie Shipp delivered the Professional Issues and Visibility Council’s annual report, reviewing committee accomplishments and plans. Staff and council leadership will address the concerns of the committees.
- Kendra Schmid, third-year Council of Chapters representative, reported on several key developments. She highlighted new initiatives, including the Dionne Price Public Lecture Series launching in spring 2025, three new ASA journals, and enhanced professional development offerings through a partnership with Instats.
- Michelle Shardell, third-year Council of Sections representative, reported on key initiatives, including two proposed new interest groups: Mobile & Wearable Data Science and Stats Up AI.
- President Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar and President-Elect Ji-Hyun Lee updated the board on the status of their strategic initiatives. Ghosh-Dastidar reviewed the ongoing initiatives on the role of statistics in data science and artificial intelligence, mentoring, community engagement, and community outreach. Lee noted three themes for her initiatives: enhancing the visibility of our profession; increasing opportunities for our community; and diversifying our membership.
- ASA Executive Director Ron Wasserstein announced that Bo Li of Washington University at St. Louis has been appointed editor-in-chief of the ASA’s new journal, ASA Discoveries, with co-editor appointments forthcoming.
- The board discussed a proposed statement on implications of new privacy protection methods but returned it to the Committee on Privacy and Confidentiality without action.
- Donna LaLonde, ASA associate executive director, delivered preliminary findings from the current ASA member survey and solicited board input on follow-up areas. LaLonde and survey director Alex Hanlon will deliver complete results and analysis at the April 2025 board meeting.
The board will meet next April 4–5, 2025, at the ASA headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
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