Emily Peterson, Research Assistant Professor, Emory University
“We are students, we are educators, we are professionals, we are leaders, we are visionaries, we are problem solvers, we are innovators, we are story tellers, we are community, we are statisticians and data scientists informing decisions and driving discoveries!”
– Dionne Price, ASA President’s Address, August 2023
On February 27, the department of biostatistics and bioinformatics at Emory University hosted the Dionne Price Memorial Lecture to celebrate the life and legacy of one of its most distinguished alumni. Dionne Price, who passed away in February 2024, earned her PhD in biostatistics at Emory University in 2000, the first African American female to earn a PhD at the Rollins School of Public Health. She went on to the US Food and Drug Administration, where she served as deputy director of the office of biostatistics, and later became the 2023 president of the American Statistical Association—the first African American female to hold that role.
Price was widely respected for her work advancing statistical science and policy, as well as her commitment to mentoring, diversity, and inclusion in the field. In recognition of her contributions, the ASA established the Dionne Price Public Lecture Series, with the inaugural lecture delivered in April in Washington, DC, by Claire Bowen of the Urban Institute.
The Emory-hosted memorial lecture included a community reception, keynote address, and leadership panel discussion, bringing together faculty, students, alumni, and guests to reflect on Price’s impact and inspire future leaders in public health and statistical science. The event opened with welcoming remarks from Benjamin Risk, Amita Manatunga, and Robert Krafty.
The keynote speaker was F. DuBois Bowman, the dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Bowman offered a tribute to Price’s life, leadership, and legacy. His remarks honored her commitment to scientific excellence and public service and highlighted her efforts to expand opportunities for underrepresented groups in statistics. Bowman also discussed leadership in higher education, drawing from his own experiences to discuss the power of authenticity, perseverance, and vision. He emphasized servant leadership, an inspiring vision of leadership that prioritizes helping faculty, students, and employees. He urged the audience to consider how they might carry forward Price’s legacy by becoming principled and inclusive leaders.
The event concluded with a panel discussion in which Bowman was joined by Manatunga, Donna Jean Brogan Professor in the department of biostatistics and bioinformatics and Price’s dissertation adviser, and Krafty, chair of the department of biostatistics and bioinformatics. Emily Peterson, research assistant professor at Emory, moderated. Each offered personal reflections and acknowledged the ways in which Price’s mentorship, leadership, and achievements shaped their community and the field at large. The conversation addressed questions about navigating leadership in complex political and institutional environments and offered advice to students preparing to lead in the next generation of statisticians and public health scientists. As he put it, “lead where you are”—a reminder that leadership opportunities exist at every stage of one’s career, from student to faculty. He continued, true leadership often begins with simply listening—valuing others’ perspectives and experiences—but it can also mean stepping forward to engage in thoughtful, active problem-solving.
The event was organized by Emily Peterson, Manatunga, Benjamin Risk, Mercedes Lewis, and Mary Abosi from the department of biostatistics and bioinformatics at Emory University. Through reflection, dialogue, and inspiration, the event honored Price’s legacy and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to advancing inclusive leadership in statistical science. It served not only as a remembrance but also a call to action.
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