Learn how the University of California, Riverside and Drexel University are prioritizing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Drexel University
Reneé H. Moore
Reneé Moore attended Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina—a small, historically Black, women’s college. She loved teaching and declared three majors: mathematics; secondary mathematics education; and psychology. One summer, she participated in the Harvard Summer Program in Biostatistics and the United Negro College Fund Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program, which set her on the path to becoming a biostatistician. Moore is currently a research professor at Drexel University; director of the Biostatistics Scientific Collaboration Center; and director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the department of epidemiology and biostatistics.
Loni Philip Tabb
Loni Philip Tabb, originally from Philadelphia, started college as a business major but later changed to math. While earning her graduate degree, she was introduced to biostatistics and in awe of how such a field could exist that blended her love of numbers and storytelling. After completing her PhD, Tabb returned to Drexel University as an assistant professor of biostatistics and, in 2017, was promoted to associate professor and awarded tenure, reflecting her dedication to excellence in teaching, service, and cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment, in addition to her research. She is the first recipient of the Annie T. Randall Innovator Award.
Loni Tabb Gives Insight on Winning First Annie T. Randall Award
The Annie T. Randall Innovator Award was established to recognize early-career statistical innovators across all job sectors and honor path-breaking Black female statistician Annie T. Randall for her pioneering career in government amid pervasive racial discrimination. Established in 2020 by the Biometrics Section, the award provides a $2,000 prize each year and is co-sponsored by the Mental Health Statistics Section. The inaugural awardee is Loni Tabb, an associate professor at Drexel University.
Sandy Griffith
Always drawn to science in one form or another, Sandy Griffith started college as a biochemistry major, but her clumsy nature lent itself better to handling data instead of beakers and chemicals. Throughout her career, she has gravitated toward applied medical research with the potential to affect the lives of patients. In her current role at Flatiron Health, Griffith works with real-world data derived from electronic health records in oncology. Her proudest moments have involved communicating complex statistical concepts to nonstatistical audiences in an approachable way by weaving in personal stories that carry emotional resonance.
Scarlett Bellamy
Scarlett Bellamy grew up on her grandparent’s tobacco farm, learning how to drive a tractor when she was just five years old. This experience shaped her work ethic. Moreover, when her grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Bellamy promised she would become a doctor so she could “fix” her. Ultimately, Bellamy earned her PhD in biostatistics from Harvard and although it wasn’t the type of doctor who could fix her grandmother, she did fulfill her promise. Today, Bellamy is a professor of biostatistics and associate dean for diversity, inclusion, and faculty development at Drexel University.
Brisa N. Sánchez
In a rural town along the US-Mexico border, Brisa N. Sánchez developed her love for math by making change for customers at her parents’ small grocery store. Eventually, she earned her PhD in biostatistics from Harvard and became a professor at the University of Michigan before taking on her current position as Dornsife Endowed Professor of Biostatistics at Drexel University.