Software Development Manager, SAS
Portia Exum is a software development manager at SAS Institute, where she excels in team building and solving complex problems. She holds a BA in mathematics/statistics and economics from Smith College and an MS in statistics from NC State University.
Exum’s journey began in Newark, New Jersey, where she spent her early years before moving around central New Jersey until college. Her passion for mathematics was ignited in the first grade while observing her father help her brother with algebra homework. This early exposure led her to pursue a concentration in statistics within her mathematics major during her sophomore year at Smith College, following an internship at Ortho-McNeil-Janssen/Johnson & Johnson.
With more than a decade of experience in software research and development and analytics, Exum has held various roles in analytical validation, software testing, and management. Her work spans SAS procedures, visualization tools, R and Python integrations, marketing analytics, and decisioning software. Additionally, she has collaborated with statisticians and clinicians on sleep and obesity studies.
Exum co-founded the Black Initiatives Group (BIG) at SAS, contributing to programs aimed at improving representation and the Black experience there. She has developed strategies with the chief technology officer and other executives to position SAS as an employer of choice for technology leaders. In 2022, she was one of 25 global recipients of the CEO Award of Excellence, a peer-nominated award recognizing her commitment to SAS values and excellence. However, her greatest satisfaction comes from mentoring others and seeing them succeed.
An active member of the American Statistical Association, Exum serves on the Committee on Minorities in Statistics, StatFest Planning Committee, and Nominations Committee. She also co-chaired the ASA Anti-Racism Task Force’s Promoting and Engaging Racial Inclusion subcommittee, which evaluated the ASA’s organizational identity and communication efforts to advance racial equity. Her involvement with the Eastern North American Region of the International Biometric Society includes past co-chairing the ENAR Diversity Workshop.
Exum is dedicated to creating a diverse pipeline into the field and collaborating to recruit, retain, and develop the next generation of statisticians, data scientists, and computer scientists. Her career is marked by a commitment to innovation, leadership, and fostering inclusive environments in the tech industry.
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