News

Zhengyuan Zhu, professor of statistics, Kingland Fellow in Data Analytics, and director of the Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology (CSSM), was selected as the interim chair of the Department of Statistics by Benjamin C.

The Department of Statistics at Iowa State University celebrates students who earned academic distinction during the Spring 2026 semester.

The American Statistical Association is announcing awards given to their members, which include several Department of Statistics alumni. 

2026 ASA Founder: Cyndy Long, M.S., 1989

2026 ASA Fellows

Iowa State University’s Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA) included statistics faculty members professor and Director of Graduate Education Ulrike Genschel (left) and professor, Data Science Program Director, and Director of Statistical Consulting Jar

The Department of Statistics hosted its annual end-of-semester ice cream social on May 5, 2026. The event brought together students, faculty, and staff to celebrate the close of the academic year. 

The Department of Statistics at Iowa State University celebrated its graduate students at the annual Graduate Student Awards ceremony held on May 4, 2026, recognizing outstanding achievements across multiple areas of study and service. 

The Department of Statistics at Iowa State University welcomed Jennifer Daddysman as an assistant teaching professor in May 2026. Daddysman was drawn to the department’s emphasis on statistics education and its supportive environment. 

The Department of Statistics hosted its annual AP® Statistics Mock Exam on April 22, 2026, welcoming high school students and teachers from across the state for a hands-on preparation experience ahead of the AP® Statistics Exam. 

The Department of Statistics brought together students, faculty, retirees, and staff for its annual spring brunch on May 2, 2026, held at Inis Grove Park. Attendees enjoyed eggs sofrito, crepes, breakfast burritos, fresh fruit, and juice.

Emily Green graduated in Spring 2024 with a degree in statistics and business and data science minors. She credits her major to finding professional success.

Mack Shelley retired in May 2026 after 47 years at Iowa State University. He held concurrent appointments in the Department of Statistics and the Department of Political Science. 

The 25 Year Club, established in 1934, honors the loyalty and impact of Iowa State employees whose long-term dedication helps shape the university community.

Ruoyu Wu joined Iowa State University’s Department of Mathematics in Fall 2020 and is currently an associate professor. He is expanding his role through a new courtesy appointment in the Department of Statistics beginning in March 2026.

Kasper earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Iowa State and has been connected to the department since 2007. During his graduate studies, he discovered a passion for teaching, leading courses almost every semester. 

Bill Graves is a horticulture faculty member and researcher and previously served as graduate college associate dean and dean.

The Department of Statistics at Iowa State University is celebrating faculty who were honored with 2026 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences awards. The awards were presented on April 22, 2026.

“The most interesting part about majoring in statistics is that although each class uses the same basics, the different lenses that they use to look at statistics makes it feel like almost an entirely new subject,” says recent alumna Marissa Baiet

Sam Fox transferred to Iowa State University during his junior year with plans to pursue a mathematics degree. After taking and enjoying a required statistics course, he added a minor in statistics.

“I feel so proud that I took statistics as my major,” says alumna Srilikitheswari Korrapati, who graduated in Fall 2025 with a statistics degree and mathematics minor.