The Department of Statistics hosted an Alumni Panel Discussion featuring three distinguished alumni: Cynthia Clark, Tetsuro (Ted) Motoyama, and Sarah Nusser. The event provided graduate students with valuable perspectives on navigating careers in statistics and data science. During the discussion, the panelists shared insights from their diverse professional experiences and concluded with a Q&A. The panel offered graduate students a unique opportunity to learn from successful alumni and gain practical advice for their own career journeys.
About the Panelists
Cynthia Z. F. Clark is a statistician recognized for her transformative contributions to the federal statistical system, particularly through her leadership at the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Educated at Mills College, the University of Denver, and Iowa State University—where she earned her Ph.D. in statistics—Clark has held pivotal roles in both U.S. and U.K.statistical agencies. Her career includes serving as associate director at the U.S. Census Bureau, executive director for methodology at the UK's Office for National Statistics, and administrator of NASS. She has also led professional organizations such as the Caucus for Women in Statistics and the Washington Statistical Society. In 2018, she began service as executive director of the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics. An elected fellow of the American Statistical Association and the Royal Statistical Society, Clark has received numerous honors, including the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award and Iowa State University's Distinguished Alumni Award.
Tetsuro (Ted) Motoyama is a distinguished professional whose career spans academia, industry, and international standards development. Originally arriving in the United States from Japan in 1971 as an exchange student, he pursued a deep and varied academic path, earning degrees in psychology, statistics, and mathematics, culminating in a Ph.D. from Iowa State University. Motoyama spent over three decades at Ricoh Corporation, where he led software development teams and contributed significantly to innovation, securing 267 U.S. patents along with several international patents. His work also included representing the U.S. in ISO standardization efforts for document processing. Prior to his corporate career, he held roles at Iowa State University and the American Institutes for Research, applying statistical expertise to government projects. Now retired, he continues to explore new interests including language learning, puzzle strategy, and global travel.
Sarah M. Nusser is Professor Emerita of Statistics at Iowa State University, where she also served as Vice President for Research and directed the Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology for over 15 years. Her career spans leadership in survey methodology, open science, and data infrastructure, with recent roles as a research professor at the University of Virginia’s Biocomplexity Institute and senior fellow with the Association of American Universities. Nusser’s research has advanced practices in longitudinal natural resource surveys, measurement error modeling, and geospatial sampling. She has also led efforts to enhance the reusability and impact of publicly accessible research data. A fellow of the American Statistical Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, she is also an elected member of the International Statistical Institute and contributes to national initiatives promoting transparency and public access to scientific data.