Charlotte Baidoo, Bristol Myers Squibb and Biopharmaceutical Report Associate Editor
A proponent of innovation, an advocate for diversity, and a champion of mentorship, Brian Millen has had a significant impact on our profession through years of leadership and service. Now, as he begins a new chapter as 2026 president-elect of the American Statistical Association, we sit down with him to discuss his journey, his vision, and what truly drives him.
Who is Brian Millen beyond the statistics roles?
First and foremost, I am a husband and father. My wife and I have been married for more than 25 years, and I’m the proud dad of two college sophomores. Watching them grow into independent, caring, thoughtful individuals has been incredibly rewarding.
I also love giving back, whether through volunteer service or by mentoring the next generation of statisticians. This has included multiple roles within the ASA, International Biometric Society Eastern North American Region, and my local community. My community service activities have ranged from coaching kids’ sports to teaching GED preparation courses to chairing the board of trustees for a local school system. Through all these service opportunities, I’ve found joy in being able to make a positive difference in people’s lived experiences and have often been able to establish enduring programs, infrastructure, and changes in culture.
Can you tell us about your journey as a statistical leader?
I’ve spent the bulk of my career at the intersection of statistics and drug development. Currently, I serve as vice president at Biogen, leading the biostatistics, epidemiology, and real-world data analytics organizations. I’m deeply committed to driving analytics-based decision-making in drug development to accelerate life-changing therapies to patients who are waiting.
Beyond my corporate role, I’ve been active for more than two decades in professional societies—including the ASA and IBS/ENAR—seeking new ways to advance our profession.
You’ve led many initiatives that have had a lasting impact. What are you most proud of?
One of the initiatives close to my heart is the Joint Statistical Meetings Diversity Workshop and Mentoring Program, which I launched in 2009 with Nagambal Shah and Kim Weems. I maintained an active leadership role in this program for 10 years, during which I successfully secured program funding through multiple national grants, stewarded program content as chair or co-chair, and directly engaged with program participants.
What started as a one-day workshop grew into a multi-day program attracting and connecting students and professionals from all sectors. It has become a cornerstone event at JSM and has helped build an inclusive community, empower leaders, and foster lasting mentoring and supportive peer-to-peer relationships. Seeing it continue to thrive today with leaders who were previously students or early-career professionals in the program is incredibly rewarding.
Naturally, the Biopharmaceutical Section holds a special place in my heart, and there are many impacts during my 10 years of service on the BIOP executive committee. One initiative I helped establish, alongside Richard Zink and Abie Ekangaki, is the BIOP Student Scholarship Award. Over the past six years or so, the scholarship has grown in prominence as one of BIOP’s signature awards, which not only provides financial support to students but also fosters deeper engagement within the ASA. Establishing programs that endure and grow beyond my direct involvement is something I take great satisfaction in.
Interestingly, one of my ASA Fellow recommendation letters summarized, “Brian lives to serve….” It was impactful for me to read that summary from someone I admire. I serve wherever I’m placed, and I’ve been blessed to be able to make a difference in many spaces—doubly blessed that I’ve been able to do so with folks I admire and call colleagues and friends.
Your passion for service is evident. How has this shaped your approach to leadership?
I believe leadership is, at some level, about creating opportunities for others. My time as ASA BIOP Section Chair reinforced this. When members came forward with new ideas, I made it a priority to find ways to say “yes.” Sometimes that meant adapting an idea rather than implementing it exactly as proposed, but the goal was always to foster an environment in which ideas had legs and innovation could thrive. As a result, new offerings were launched or piloted and scientific working groups and committees grew—all in service to our members and our profession.
One challenge that surfaced during my tenure as BIOP chair was a shift in the ASA’s finance/expense model, which negatively affected the BIOP Section. We found ourselves unexpectedly projecting a deficit because of the ASA-initiated changes—not because of any changes to BIOP operations. In response, section treasurer Emily Butler, incoming chair Ted Lystig, and I were able to successfully collaborate with the ASA executive leadership to arrive at an alternative financial model that met the evolving needs of the ASA and the needs of the section, including enabling important growth initiatives BIOP had under consideration. That experience reinforced that all challenges are solvable when dedicated people come together. I’ve always found that to be the case in my roles at the ASA.
You’re now beginning a new leadership role within the ASA. What are your top priorities?
When members came forward with new ideas, I made it a priority to find ways to say “yes.”
There are four key areas I want to focus on:
- Advocacy That Matters – The ASA has a crucial role to play in advocating for policies that affect our profession, from protecting public access to data to ensuring funding for sound statistical science and ethics in research. I want to continue and strengthen the ASA’s voice in these important areas.
- Celebrating and Sharing Our Impact – Statisticians influence public health, policy, and innovation, but our contributions are not as well-known as they should be. I want to amplify the stories of our contributions, celebrate the impact of our members, and ensure our contributions are appropriately documented.
- Cultivating and Equipping Leaders – Leadership skills are just as critical as technical expertise. I plan to expand the ASA’s Leadership Institute and mentoring programs and partner with academic programs to embed leadership principles in curricula to ensure statisticians are equipped to lead at all career stages.
- Ensuring Organizational Health and Agility – The ASA must be financially sound and adaptable to meet the evolving needs of our diverse membership. Reviewing governance structures and financial models will be key to ensuring long-term sustainability.
The statistics field is evolving rapidly, especially with AI and machine learning. How do you see the ASA adapting to these changes?
The ASA is a “big tent” organization, welcoming statisticians, data scientists, and AI/ML experts. The rise of artificial intelligence presents an opportunity for our organization. We need to ensure AI applications are built on sound statistical principles while embracing the innovation they bring. It’s crucial for the ASA to foster innovation without partisanship, championing advances across all areas of statistics and data science, including AI and ML.
Looking back on your career, what do you hope your legacy will be?
For me, the true mark of success is whether I’ve left things better than I found them. Whether it’s through launching new initiatives, shaping culture, or mentoring the next generation, my goal has always been to create lasting, meaningful change.
If, years from now, people look back and say, “Because of his efforts, more people had opportunities to grow, succeed, and contribute to the field,” then I’ll be satisfied.
That’s a powerful perspective. Any final thoughts?
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to serve in this community and look forward to continuing that work, embracing new challenges, and helping shape the future of the ASA and our profession. Folks can learn more about my background and my thoughts about how I would lead by visiting www.BrianMillenForASAPresident.com. People can contact me to share ideas or ask questions through a portal on that site.
Editor’s note: A version of this article originally ran in the 2025 spring issue of the Biopharmaceutical Report and is republished with permission.
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