Qixuan Chen’s journey into statistics was deeply inspired by her father, who pursued a self-taught degree in statistics while managing more than 100 employees, achieving the highest GPA in his class. Growing up on a beautiful island in southeast China, Chen was captivated by his explanation of the bell curve, sparking her passion for the field. She later earned advanced degrees in the United States and developed a research philosophy grounded in problem-driven methods, community engagement, and clear communication. As a dedicated educator and mentor, Chen finds joy in supporting students, believing—like her father—it’s never too late to achieve greatness.
Who is credited with inventing the slide rule? Who founded the International Biometric Society? The answers to these questions—and more—are part of this month’s history in statistics.
Alexandra Schmidt was born in Nova Friburgo, Brazil. Her interest in computers started at age 13, when she taught herself programming in Basic.
John Bailer’s ASA story is more than four decades old, and his professional journey has been arm-in-arm with the ASA.
Sonia Thomas’s journey into biostatistics began at the University of North Carolina, where a flier in a math class piqued her interest.
