Imagine a world that relies on data and statistical thinking to drive discovery and inform decisions. I am introducing this month’s column with the ASA vision statement because I returned from the Joint Statistical Meetings more optimistic and enthusiastically ready to work with our amazing community to make our vision a reality. As I acknowledged in my president’s address, our challenges are real. However, reading the comments and seeing the delightful pictures posted on social media, I am confident that we are ready to meet the challenges.
As my colleague Richard Zink shared on LinkedIn, “#JSM2026 was a whirlwind: teaching, speaking, chairing, catching up with old acquaintances and developing new ones. In a very technical and uncertain time, I really appreciated the camaraderie, support, and laughter I personally experienced and observed throughout the convention center. It was inspiring and makes me optimistic for what the future holds.”
First-time attendee Beenu Sareena ended her LinkedIn post with this comment: “Thank you to everyone who made this week so welcoming. I left JSM feeling motivated, grateful, and excited for the future of our community!”
I share her feelings of gratitude and excitement for the future and want to continue the call to action that I made in my president’s address.
Our strategic plan has three themes: Enhancing the Diversity and Breadth of Our Association, Increasing the Visibility of Our Profession, and Ensuring the Future of Our Profession. In my talk, I invited you to see each theme as a doorway to enter through as a metaphor for the ways in which you can contribute to the practice and profession of statistics. I asked you to respond to a poll to indicate the “doors” you wanted to open.
Behind door number one was Education and Curriculum, which received 66 votes. What does it look like to walk through this door? For some, it will be contributing to a local ASA DataFest event as an organizer, mentor, or judge. Others may share their expertise by authoring an article for Statistics Teacher or STATtr@k. You may volunteer to be a judge for the ASA Data Visualization Poster Contest or the Statistics Project Competition. In the next few weeks, we will be establishing working groups to act on our AI Strategic Plan’s Priority on Next-Generation Talent & Education, so this may be a door you choose. Which would you like to explore further, or do you have another approach in mind? If so, let me know by filling out the short form.
Public Policy and Advocacy received 36 votes. Signing up for the Count on Stats newsletter will not only keep you informed but will also provide an opportunity for you to engage directly with our expert ASA advocacy team. Your contribution may be responding to formal requests for information; calls for public comment; or alerting your local, state, or national representatives of issues that ensure decisions are informed by statistical thinking and data. These are a few ideas, but far from the only possibilities. How would you like to be involved?
In my talk, I acknowledged how important mentors have been in my professional life, so I was delighted that Professional Development and Mentoring received 78 votes. I believe without the support of Fritz Scheuren and Lynda Carlson, I would not be writing this column as president of the ASA. Through the ASA Community, we are launching a new online mentoring platform, MentorLink. Mentees will be able to view prospective mentors’ profiles to find the best match for their needs. Profiles will include a recent picture and a bio that will help mentees determine whether to reach out to potential mentors. After it launches later this year, you will need to update your privacy settings and answer yes to “I would like to be included in the member directory and community rosters” to be visible in the MentorLink directory. Watch for the announcement about MentorLink and enter through this door.
Another way I want to encourage you is to help us build a professional development program that is timely and serves your needs. What topics should we explore for short courses at meetings, chapter traveling courses, and virtual offerings? You can tell us your topics and ideas by filling out the form.
The overarching theme for my presidential year is Communities in Action, and I want to encourage you to join the 48 who voted to open the Community Building and Outreach door. One of the next steps for the Communities in Action initiative is to explore the formation of a Communities in Action Outreach Group. There are two main objectives of the outreach group. First is to create and then support a network of statisticians and data scientists who want to actively serve their communities by volunteering their expertise, consistent with ethical practices and standards, to help solve community challenges. Second is to promote community service by telling the stories of statisticians and data scientists who are making an impact in their communities. We need at least 50 ASA members to sign the petition to form the proposed outreach group, so please consider signing.
I highlighted three stories during my talk and invited you to contribute yours. It is easy to do. Just send a virtual postcard. Yet another way you can build community is by engaging with student groups by joining our speakers bureau which matches speakers with student groups for both in-person and virtual presentations. Of course, you aren’t limited to these choices. Let me know if there is something else you’d like to try.
The final door, which received 78 votes, was Research and Publications. I am proud of the depth, breadth, and quality of the ASA portfolio of journals. Choosing to submit your work to a journal in the ASA portfolio helps sustain the high quality of scientific communication for which our journals are recognized. But a journal article is only one path; I encourage you to consider writing for CHANCE or Real World Data Science. Presenting at an ASA conference is also an important part of opening this door. As Hao Sun posted on LinkedIn, “It was a great opportunity to share our work, exchange ideas with colleagues, and receive valuable feedback.” What makes the most sense to you?
Looking forward to JSM 2026, Quiyi Wu wrote on LinkedIn, “I’m excited for the journey ahead and look forward to the collaborations, discoveries, and friendships this new chapter will bring.” At the beginning of this column, I asked you to imagine a world that relies on data and statistical thinking to drive discovery and inform decisions. Like my colleague Quiyi, I am excited to continue my journey and to open more doors. From small to big, from daily conversations to long-term collaborative projects, every contribution matters, every contribution makes a statement, and every contribution helps build the future.
Jeri Mulrow
2026 ASA President
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