The ASA GivesBack group chose to focus their first project of 2024 on the generosity of ASA members. Read the selection of the stories submitted from ASA members about how they chose to give back in 2023.

Nancy Reid initially intended to become a computer scientist because it was rumored to be the “future.” Instead, during her undergraduate years, she discovered she enjoyed statistics. She went on to pursue an MSc at the University of British Columbia, after which she expected to find a ‘real job.’ However, when she did her research thesis, she became hooked on research. In fact, the research environment was so exciting to her she has dedicated her entire career to academia. Still, Reid said she values the influence she has on her students the most.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are once again celebrating ASA women who work in statistics and data science. These 11 accomplished women were chosen because they are leaders and mentors to many in their field.

Elinor Jones, Lucia Barbone, and Kelly H. Zou discussed their experiences as women collaborating with researchers and stakeholders during an hour-long panel as part of the International Day for Women in Statistics and Data Science celebration on October 10, 2023.

Millennia Young’s favorite subject while growing up was math. She loved solving problems and knowing she had the correct answer, even if the answer was “does not exist.” After high school, she went on to study applied mathematics at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and it was there she was introduced to statistics. “Although both disciplines use math to model what is happening in the world,” she wrote, “statistics provided unique insights.” Before she started her PhD, she had two children, and by the time she defended, she had three. Although she struggled, she kept going. Eventually, she landed her dream job—leading the biostatistics lab for human health and performance at NASA.