Episode 61: Communities in Action—A Conversation with 2026 ASA President Jeri Mulrow
A call to action kicks off the New Year and season six of “Practical Significance.” Cohosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein welcome incoming ASA President Jeri Mulrow, who shares her thoughts about leadership, service, and the evolving role of statistics and asks members to become communities in action.
Her experiences—from growing up in Helena, Montana, to taking on leadership roles in the federal statistical system to her current position at Westat—and watching the remarkable work of colleagues inspired the JSM 2026 theme and her presidential initiative, Communities in Action.
Her presidential initiative is a grassroots activity and opportunity to help local communities by being an active presence and spokesperson for statistics and data science. Through this initiative, Mulrow hopes to help empower the ASA community to raise the profile of the practice and profession of statistics and data science. The goal is to equip members with practical tips and tools that enable them to apply their statistical and data expertise to address real challenges in their communities.
Listen in to get to know the new ASA president and her thoughts about the future of the profession and hear the impactful advice she has for students and early-career professionals. And don’t miss Ron’s traditional top 10, the “Top Ten Ways of Expressing the Year 2026.”
Interested in sharing your ideas for Communities in Action? We’d love to hear from you!