In celebration of Black History Month, we recognize the following individuals for their contributions to the statistics field and the lasting impact of their work on research, education, and society.
Celebrating Black History Month
Maria Tackett
From an early age, Maria Tackett felt a passion for math, particularly solving puzzle-like problems. Now an associate professor of the practice at Duke University, she mentors students and collaborates with them to reach their goals.
Anny-Claude Joseph
Drawn to math and real-world problem-solving, Anny-Claude Joseph earned a doctorate in biostatistics at Virginia Commonwealth University. Now, as a faculty member at Wellesley College, she mentors students inspired to pursue careers in public service.
James McCune Smith
James McCune Smith was the first professionally trained Black physician to practice in the United States. Smith’s work pioneered the use of statistical evidence to evaluate the efficacy of medical treatments and dismantle racist claims of Black biological inferiority.
William Edward Burghardt (W. E. B.) Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois was the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard and one of the founders of the NAACP. He pioneered the development of sociology as a scientific discipline, using sophisticated statistical methods and infographics.
Charles Bernard Bell Jr.
Charles Bernard Bell Jr. was a pioneering statistician elected as an ASA Fellow and an Institute of Mathematical Statistics Honored Fellow. Bell earned his doctorate in mathematical statistics from the University of Notre Dame in 1953.
Brittney Bailey
Brittney Bailey pursued graduate study at The Ohio State University, ultimately transitioning to a PhD program in biostatistics. Today, at Amherst College, Bailey advances research in mental health and aging.
Kaleab Z. Abebe
Kaleab Abebe’s journey to becoming a tenured professor in biostatistics at the University of Pittsburgh began in the small town of Goshen, Indiana.
Benedict Anchang
Benedict Anchang’s trek from Cameroon to the National Institutes of Health is a testament to resilience. Growing up as an anglophone in a predominantly francophone country, he found solace in mathematics, a passion his mother encouraged until her passing when Anchang was just 18.
Jeffrey R. Wilson
Jeffrey R. Wilson, a professor of statistics and biostatistics at Arizona State University, combines his Trinidadian roots with a passion for using data to address societal challenges.