I prepared for the Joint Statistical Meetings this year in Nashville, Tennessee, with genuine enthusiasm and excitement to see longtime colleagues and meet new colleagues, but my anticipation was tempered by the sobering realities of the current moment. I knew many colleagues would not be able to participate. In this column, I want to share some reflections from JSM 2025, a gathering that acknowledged both the difficulties we face and our resilience.
During the ASA Board of Directors meeting, we were shaken by the sudden news of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner’s firing, which deeply concerned us as statisticians and citizens. It was a reminder that the professional and political landscapes we navigate are connected. Before JSM started, over two full days, the board tackled important decisions for our association— debating, planning, and setting a direction for the year ahead.
One of my favorite moments this year came from the First-Time Attendee Orientation and Reception. The room was buzzing with energy, curiosity, and optimism for the profession’s future. After the event, I noticed something new: LinkedIn came alive! Attendees were sharing photos, reflections, and takeaways, creating a wave effect that extended far beyond Nashville.
This year, I had the joy of seeing four University of Florida Health Cancer Center colleagues and a student attend JSM for the first time. I was eager to hear what the experience was like for them, so I asked each to share a short reflection. Their words remind me of the power of community, the value of fresh perspectives, and why JSM continues to matter so much.
Tara Hashemian
Biostatistician, Biostatistics & Computational Biology Shared Resource, University of Florida Health Cancer Center
Attending my first JSM was an experience I will never forget, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to participate. Being surrounded by thousands of people in the same field was both exciting and energizing, especially since in my everyday life I rarely meet others who have studied statistics.
I attended sessions spanning both soft skills and technical content, covering subjects such as understanding the impacts of the current administration’s policies on the statistical profession, building stronger professional networks, enhancing statistical communication for diverse audiences, exploring advanced visualization techniques with ggplot extenders, and leveraging large-scale databases for complex analyses. This breadth of topics will not only strengthen my technical skills but also enhance my ability to collaborate effectively and adapt to evolving professional demands.
Gonghao Liu
Biostatistician, Biostatistics & Computational Biology Shared Resource, University of Florida Health Cancer Center
As a first-time attendee at JSM in Nashville, I began with the first-time orientation, where the friendly guidance and spontaneous conversations immediately made the conference feel accessible. Meeting people in that setting turned my initial nerves into excitement.
The ggplot extender session opened a clear path for contributing to ggplot2, showing how ideas move from a pull request to a polished extension. It demystified the process and left me motivated to join the community and contribute to the future.
I also attended the ASA President’s Address and felt proud to see Dr. Lee serve as president this year. Between sessions, I explored Nashville, letting the city’s energy and hospitality round out the experience. I left JSM with new connections, practical skills, and a renewed commitment to contribute to both the statistics community and to the evolving AI–statistics conversation.
Zhongyue Zhang
Biostatistician, Biostatistics & Computational Biology Shared Resource, University of Florida Health Cancer Center
Attending JSM 2025 in Nashville as an early-career statistician was both exciting and humbling. As a first-time attendee, I felt a mix of curiosity, anticipation, and overwhelm. The conference’s size and energy were unlike anything I had experienced before.
I began with the First-Time Attendee Orientation and Reception, which provided a welcoming start and helped me navigate the week ahead. From there, I made a deliberate choice to attend the professional skills development session Career Development Panel: Network Like a Pro. As someone who tends to be shy in large gatherings, walking into a room full of strangers was a challenge. The guided format helped break the ice. I quickly discovered that networking doesn’t mean forcing a connection. By the end of the session, I had not only made new contacts but also gained a sense of accomplishment in stepping far outside my comfort zone.
One of the most memorable sessions for me was the Communication in Statistics and Data Science panel. Hearing experienced communicators share how they translate complex statistical concepts into messages that resonate with policymakers, journalists, and the public was eye-opening. Their stories reinforced that technical expertise alone is not enough; how we convey our findings can be just as critical in determining their real-world impact. I left the session inspired to strengthen my own communication skills and apply these lessons to my daily work.
For me, JSM was not just about learning from experts, but also about learning more about myself and how I want to grow in this profession.
Ada Wang
Biostatistician, Biostatistics & Computational Biology Shared Resource, University of Florida Health Cancer Center
As a first-time attendee, I was thrilled to be part of JSM, but I’ll admit I was a bit overwhelmed by its scale. Fortunately, the orientation for first-time attendees created such a welcoming environment that it encouraged me to reach out to others and start building connections right away.
One of the biggest challenges was deciding which sessions to attend, and there were so many options! Over five days, the talks covered a broad spectrum, from theoretical statistical methods in academia to clinical applications in industry, from high-level policy discussions on the impact of AI to hands-on deep dives into R packages like ggplot2 extensions.
As mentioned in the president’s address, these fields aren’t silos; they’re bridges that connect us all and guide us from the present into the future. Attending JSM has been a major milestone in my professional development, and I look forward to becoming more engaged in this vibrant community.
Zhuochao Huang
PhD Student, Department of Statistics, University of Florida
My first impression of JSM was simply its scale. The meeting was packed with a variety of sessions covering the cutting-edge developments in every corner of statistics.
I focused on sessions on causal inference. Hearing different viewpoints, especially on the application of causal inference to real-world problems and what directions are of genuine interest to practitioners broadened my understanding.
At JSM, I met and attended the lectures of prominent figures in statistics such as Tony Cai and Jianqing Fan and it felt just like meeting my idols, while also connecting with fellow PhD students. Some of the most valuable moments happened after sessions ended, when conversations turned into unexpected mentoring opportunities. Those exchanges, both professional and personal, were as enriching as the formal presentations themselves.
Despite the uncertainties that have marked our recent months, the enthusiasm shared by my colleagues who were first-time participants served as a powerful reminder of why the ASA community is important. Moving forward, we carry with us the current realities and renewed commitment that comes from new voices ready to contribute to our profession.
Correction: In last month’s President’s Corner, Amarjot Kaur’s name was misspelled. We apologize for the error.
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