February is Black History Month, so I want to acknowledge contributions of Black statisticians and data scientists to our profession. The stories I highlight in this column are to remind us that scientific progress depends on opening doors, not closing them.
The stories I highlight in this column are to remind us that scientific progress depends on opening doors, not closing them.
The path to becoming a statistician in the early and mid-twentieth century required extraordinary determination for anyone. Annie Mae Turner Taylor Randall was born on January 22, 1925, in Greenwood, South Carolina, and grew up in a segregated Washington, DC. A straight-A student, she graduated from Dunbar High School, then took undergraduate and graduate classes at American University.
Annie began her government career at the US War Production Board during WWII. She went on to be the first professional African American to work in several government agencies. As a mathematical statistician in the Theoretical Statistics and Mathematics Branch of the National Institutes of Mental Health, she used one of the first mainframe computers and was responsible for the calculations behind the book Human Aging.
In 2020, the ASA Biometrics Section established the Annie T. Randall Innovator Award to recognize trailblazers who are continuing her legacy of excellence. Annie’s biography on the Mathematically Gifted and Black website ends with this advice: “Always do your best and help others.”
Annie T. Randall illustrates the past. Current ASA Board members DuBois Bowman (vice president), Brian Millen (president-elect), and Sharina Person (Council of Sections representative) are examples of the present. They bring not only their statistical expertise but also their commitment to advancing the profession for everyone. These board members are shaping how the ASA responds to emerging challenges, how we support early-career members, and how we ensure statistical practice serves diverse communities and addresses pressing societal needs. Through their service, they model what it means to contribute at the highest levels while remaining committed to opening doors for others.
In an interview published in the ASA Biopharmaceutical Report, Brian was asked to look back on his career and share his hope for his legacy. He responded, “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.” Brian’s commitment to service is a reminder that Black History Month is not only about the past we honor, but what we continue to create every day.
DuBois is a renowned expert in the statistical analysis of brain imaging data. This excellence is matched by his commitment to passing knowledge forward. In an interview published in The New York Times after his appointment as the president of Morehouse College, he said he wanted to create an environment “where students can come from many backgrounds and perspectives, a space for open inquiry to wrestle and challenge and debate ideas, with an openness to grow and evolve.” As we celebrate Black History Month, his commitment to education challenges us to redouble our efforts to invest in the next generation.
In A Statistician’s Life feature in Amstat News, Sharina said, “I take it as a personal challenge to change the mind of that person who ‘hates statistics.’ The ability to elevate the perception of statistics while doing something meaningful that I love always brings me joy.” Black History Month reminds us that progress in any profession has come through individuals who don’t just excel in their field but also serve it. Sharina’s dedication to the practice and profession of statistics shows us that strengthening the profession means strengthening the community.
We are always facing challenges, but I am filled with optimism about the practice and profession of statistics because of the work of our emerging leaders, who are pushing methodological boundaries while also reshaping how our profession thinks about mentorship and belonging.
Lorin Crawford, who will deliver the 2026 Dionne Price Public Lecture and is a past recipient of the Annie T. Randall Innovator award, is the perfect future-focused story. Lorin works on developing interpretable machine learning and AI algorithms to study how genetic effects and gene-by-environmental interactions influence complex traits and disease progression. Our talented young statisticians and data scientists are asking bold questions, bringing fresh perspectives, and refusing to accept that things must stay as they’ve always been. We have every reason to believe the future of statistics is bright and the story isn’t finished.
Our talented young statisticians and data scientists are asking bold questions, bringing fresh perspectives, and refusing to accept that things must stay as they’ve always been [. …] Students are the ones who will add new chapters to the rich legacy we celebrate during Black History Month and beyond.
Students are the ones who will add new chapters to the rich legacy we celebrate during Black History Month and beyond. Each generation brings fresh outlooks, new questions, and innovations we can’t yet imagine, building on the foundation laid by those who came before. When we invest in students, we are making a commitment to our vision of a world that relies on data and statistical thinking to drive discovery and inform decisions. If you know a student doing exceptional work, I encourage you to take the time to nominate them for an award. Your nomination could be the encouragement they need to keep pushing boundaries in our profession.
The students we teach and mentor today will become the leaders, educators, and innovators who ensure the values of service, excellence, and community we honor this month continue to shape our profession for years to come.
As we move forward, we carry both the responsibility to honor the history of contributions and the commitment to ensure the next generation of statistical leaders reflects the breadth of talent and perspective our field needs. The story of statistics is incomplete without these voices.
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