ASA Founder and Fellow Linda Young was named one of West Texas A&M University’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni. Young earned her bachelor’s and master’s in mathematics at WT A&M.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Explore US Statistical Agencies with Stats+Stories
Those interested in the work of US statistical agencies, their international counterparts, or topics related to their work might want to dive into this Stats+Stories podcast episode list.
‘Sailing Your Own Path’: An Interview with Jeri Mulrow
Jeri Mulrow found statistics to be a great foundation for her career and the federal statistics system to be a supportive environment for women, especially within leadership positions. She remarked that finding people who can advocate, mentor, or champion another person’s career is a mix of luck and hard work.
Biden Administration’s First Budget Request Favors NIH, NSF; Flat Funds Education, Energy, Health, Justice Statistics
The Biden administration’s fiscal year 2022 (FY22) budget request sends a strong signal for its support of research funding, proposing 20 percent increases for the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Many of the federal statistical agencies also see strong support through increases of 5–10 percent.
ASA, COPAFS, Partners Urge Bolstering of Federal Statistical Agencies
Federal statistics have undergirded our democracy, society, and economy since the nation’s founding. Even as their importance has increased over the centuries—especially recently with the focus on evidence-based policymaking—the agencies producing the data have been neglected, lost important autonomy and statutory protections, and been pushed deeper into the federal bureaucracy.
Cynthia Zang Facer Clark
Cynthia Clark’s mother was a chemist prior to WWII and her father was an agricultural loan officer and bank director, so studying mathematics and science was not unusual for a girl in her home. She pursued mathematics until it was clear to her there were better career opportunities in statistics for a woman. A longtime leader in the official statistics community, she is the executive director of the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics.
For Linda Young, It’s About Learning the Right Questions to Ask
Linda Young has done consulting projects throughout her career, but prefers to think of herself as an applied researcher.
FY17 Federal Budget Resolved; Trump’s FY18 Budget Request Released
Steve Pierson, ASA director of science policy, breaks down the government’s FY17 final budget and reviews the FY18 requested budgets for federal statistical agencies.
Meet Hubert Hamer: NASS Administrator
We invited Hubert Hamer—administrator of the National Agricultural Statistics Service—to respond to a few questions so readers could learn more about him and the agency he leads.
FY17 Requests for NIH, NSF, Federal Statistical Agencies Largely Positive
President Barack Obama’s requested budget for Fiscal Year 2017 maintains his record of proposing generally healthy increases for the NIH, NSF, and many federal statistical agencies, but realizing increases of any amount will be challenging.