Contents
Events
Conference on Predictive Inference in Sports
June 4 - 5, 2025 | Iowa State University Alumni Center
Please join us for the Conference on Predictive Inference in Sports on June 4-5, 2025. The conference will occur in the Iowa State University Alumni Center, situated between Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum. Visit the Conference on Predictive Inference in Sports website to learn more.
U.S. Conference on Teaching Statistics
July 15 - 19, 2025 | Iowa State University
Registration for the U.S. Conference on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS), to be held at Iowa State University in July of 2025, is now open. The conference runs from Thur July 17 - Sat July 19, with pre-conference activities (including workshops) beginning on Tues July 15. Visit the USCOTS page to learn more.
Join the Department of Statistics JSM Reception for Alumni and Friends in Nashville, TN
August 5 | Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint, Nashville, TN
Friends of the Iowa State Department of Statistics who will attend the Joint Statistical Meeting in Nashville are invited to join us for our departmental reception, which takes place from 5:45 - 6:45 on Tuesday, August 5, at Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint. Visit our event page to learn more.
News
Alumnus Dale Zimmerman Publishes Sixth Book on Spatial Statistics
Dale Zimmerman, a 1986 Ph.D. graduate in statistics from Iowa State University, has published his sixth book, Spatial Linear Models for Environmental Data. Co-authored with Jay Ver Hoef of NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the book was released in 2024 and provides an in-depth, applied approach to geostatistics and areal data analysis.
Written for students and professionals with master’s-level training in statistics, the book presents spatial statistics through the framework of a spatial linear model. It includes numerous examples, simulation studies, and R code to help readers apply the concepts to their own data. Read More.
Photo courtesy of Tammy Siegel.
Celebrating the Career and Retirement of University Professor Philip Dixon
On May 1, colleagues, students, friends, and family gathered at Reiman Gardens to celebrate the career and upcoming retirement of University Professor Philip Dixon. The reception, hosted by the Department of Statistics, reflected on Dixon’s 27 years of service to Iowa State University and his lasting contributions to the field of statistics.
Philip Dixon joined the department in 1998 as an Associate Professor and was promoted to Professor in 2002. In 2011, he was named University Professor, a title awarded to faculty members whose professional work has significantly impacted the university. Over the course of his career, he became known not only for his statistical expertise but also for his dedication to mentoring, collaboration, and professional service. Read More.
Celebrating the Career and Retirement of Associate Professor Huaiqing Wu
On May 8, the Department of Statistics at Iowa State University celebrated the career and upcoming retirement of Associate Professor Huaiqing Wu with a reception in Snedecor Hall. Colleagues, students, and friends gathered to reflect on Wu’s lasting contributions to the department and the field of statistics, enjoying refreshments and a brief program recognizing his achievements.
Wu joined Iowa State in August 1997, following the completion of his Ph.D. in Statistics at the University of Michigan. Over the past 28 years, he has played a central role in the department’s teaching and research missions, developing a reputation for excellence in experimental design, engineering statistics, reliability, and statistical learning. Read More.
Department Hosts the 2025 AP® Statistics Mock Exam
On April 23 and 26, the Department of Statistics hosted its 3rd annual AP® Statistics Mock Exam. The event served two purposes: to help high school teachers learn how AP® Statistics Exams are scored and to prepare high school students for the actual AP® Statistics Exam.
Statistics faculty member Laura Ziegler organized the event. Many faculty members provided help to make the event a success, including Anna Peterson (ISU), Wesley Cox (ISU), Ulrike Genschel (ISU), Dan Nordman (ISU), Amy Froelich (ISU), and Barb Barnet (AP® Statistics Chief Reader and ISU alum). Assistance also came from ISU undergraduate students (Estaphani Barroso Perez, Yu-Fang Huang, Lilly Otter, Alison Whyatt) and a graduate student (Sabrina Morse). Read More.
AP® is a trademark registered by College Board, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse Iowa State University’s (events, programs, etc.)
Statistics Major Angelina Allen Featured in Iowa State Daily
Senior statistics major Angelina Allen continues to make an impact at Iowa State both in the classroom and on the softball field. Recently named a preseason second-team All-American and ranked among the top 30 players in the nation, Allen’s leadership and dedication have made her an invaluable member of the Cyclone softball team.
Allen’s success isn’t limited to the diamond. Last summer, she gained hands-on experience as a Baseball Operations Intern with the New York Yankees, where she worked with performance analysts and helped manage game data collection systems. Her passion for sports analytics drives her goal of becoming a sports science analyst for an MLB team after graduation. Read More.
Statistics Major Marissa Baietto Invited to Join Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Marissa Baietto, a statistics major at Iowa State University, has been invited to join Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society for the liberal arts and sciences.
Founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, Phi Beta Kappa recognizes exceptional academic achievement and commitment to the liberal arts. Membership is highly selective: fewer than 10% of U.S. colleges and universities have chapters, and only about 10% of liberal arts and sciences students at those institutions are invited to join. Read More.
Mack Shelley Honored for 45 Years of Service at Iowa State
University Professor Mack Shelley, who holds appointments in the Departments of Statistics and Political Science as well as the School of Education, was honored this spring for 45 years of service to Iowa State University. Shelley was recognized at the 90th annual 25-Year Club banquet on April 14, held at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center.
Shelley joined Iowa State in 1979 and has since held a variety of leadership roles, including Director of the Research Institute for Studies in Education, Director of Graduate Education in Political Science, Chair of the Department of Political Science, and Faculty Fellow for Department Chair Professional Development in the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost. Read More.
Awards
Lendie Follett Recognized with 2025 Social Impact Award
The Department of Statistics congratulates Dr. Lendie R. Follett on receiving the 2025 Social Impact Research and Outreach Award from Drake University’s Zimpleman College of Business. This prestigious award honors faculty and staff who tackle pressing societal challenges through their research and outreach efforts.
Dr. Follett, Associate Professor of Business Analytics, Co-Director of Data Analytics, and Department Chair of Actuarial Science, Analytics, and Information Systems, was recognized for her work applying data analysis to expand food security efforts. In her Fall 2024 STAT 172: Data Mining and General Linear Models course, her students used predictive models to assist Wesley Life Meals on Wheels in determining how to expand its services beyond Polk County, with a focus on alleviating rural senior citizen food insecurity. This project supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger. Read More.
Iowa State Alumnus Dr. Birol Emir Named 2024 ASA Fellow
Iowa State University alumnus Dr. Birol Emir has been named a Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA), a distinction awarded to a select group of statisticians for their exceptional contributions to the field.
Dr. Emir, who earned his Ph.D. in statistics from Iowa State, is currently a lecturer in Columbia University’s M.S. in Applied Analytics program and serves as an executive director at Pfizer. At Pfizer, he leads Real-World Evidence Statistics across therapeutic areas, applying his expertise in big data, predictive modeling, and genomics to drive healthcare innovation. Read More.
Three Alumni Named 2025 ASA Fellows
The Department of Statistics is proud to recognize three alumni who were named 2025 Fellows of the American Statistical Association: Dr. Andreea Erciulescu (Westat), Dr. Cynthia Long (PalmerCollege of Chiropractic), and Dr. Brian Philip Weaver (Los Alamos National Laboratory). In addition, Dr. Birol Emir and Dr. Ming Li were among program alumni named ASA Fellow in 2024.
ASA Fellowship is one of the highest honors in the field, awarded to a select group of statisticians each year in recognition of their professional contributions and impact. We're honored to count these distinguished individuals among our alumni.
Iowa State Alum J. Marcus Jobe Recognized by ASQ for Contributions to Statistical Quality Control
Iowa State University alum and Miami University Professor Emeritus J. Marcus Jobe has been recognized with the 2024 William G. Hunter Award, presented annually by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) Statistics Division. This award honors individuals who have made substantial contributions to statistical consulting, practitioner education, and the integration of statistics across disciplines.
In 1984, Jobe graduated with a Ph.D. in Statistics from Iowa State University, where he built the foundation for a career dedicated to advancing applied statistics. Over the years, he introduced innovative courses in experimental design and data mining, taught courses at General Electric in Cincinnati, and played a role in bringing quality control education to Ukraine. His impact continues to shape the field, inspiring future generations of statisticians and industry leaders. Read More.
Graduate Students Earn First and Second at National Statistics Conference
Graduate students Payton Miloser and Rebekah Scott placed first and second in the Graduate Student Oral Competition at the 2025 Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture and Natural Resources (CASANR), held May 15 at the University of Florida. Read More.
Yuyang Li Receives Spring 2025 Graduate Research Excellence Award
The Department of Statistics congratulates Yuyang Li on receiving a Spring 2025 Graduate Research Excellence (GREX) Award! This prestigious recognition highlights her outstanding research accomplishments and academic excellence.
Yuyang’s achievements include winning the 2024 ASA Student Paper Award in the Risk Analysis session, the 2024 Vince Sposito Award for excellence in statistical computing, and the George W. Snedecor Award in 2022. She has already published three research papers, with another nearing submission and one more in preparation. Read More.
Recent Graduate Federico Veneri Guarch Wins SDNS Student Paper Competition
Recent graduate Federico A. Veneri Guarch has been named the winner of the 2025 Statistics in Defense and National Security (SDNS) Student Paper Competition for his manuscript, Synthetic Anchoring Under the Specific Source Problem. He will present his research in an invited session at the 2025 DATAWorks conference in April.
Veneri Guarch’s work focuses on improving source identification methods, a key problem in forensic science and national security. His approach introduces a resampling technique to generate synthetic data, enhancing score-based likelihood ratio systems used in cases where traditional probabilistic modeling is impractical. His findings demonstrate improved performance in forensic applications such as handwriting and glass analysis. Read More.
Graduate Student Subrata Pal Places 2nd in ASA Student Paper Competition
The Department of Statistics is pleased to announce that graduate student Subrata Pal has been awarded 2nd place in the 2025 ASA Medical Device and Diagnostics Section Student Paper Competition. His paper, “Tensor-on-Tensor Time Series Regression for Integrated One-step Analysis of fMRI Data,” proposes a groundbreaking methodology for analyzing functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data.
Pal has developed a one-stage tensor-variate regression framework that integrates the analysis of large, structured fMRI datasets. This approach addresses key challenges in activation detection studies by unifying the modeling of time-varying stimuli and spatial context into a single, computationally efficient step. The research represents a significant advancement over traditional two-stage methods, with potential wide-ranging implications in the field. Read More.
Department Chair Dan Nettleton Named AAAS Fellow for Scientific Excellence
Dan Nettleton, Department Chair, Distinguished Professor, and Laurence H. Baker Chair in Biological Statistics, has been named to the 2024 class of Fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
The AAAS Fellow distinction is a lifetime honor recognizing scientists, engineers, and innovators for their extraordinary achievements across disciplines, including research, teaching, technology, and service to the scientific community. Fellows are nominated based on their contributions to advancing science, its applications, and public understanding, and they must have been continuous members of AAAS for at least four years before nomination. This award highlights individuals whose work significantly impacts both their field and society. Read More.
Petruța Caragea and Mack Shelley Recognized with LAS Faculty Excellence Awards
Two Department of Statistics faculty members were recently honored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for their outstanding contributions to teaching and student success.
Petruța Caragea, Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Statistics, received the Cassling Family Faculty Award for the 2023–24 academic year, recognizing her outstanding achievement in teaching. Established by Randal and Lori Cassling of Omaha, Nebraska, in honor of Randal’s parents, the award is given annually by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to faculty selected from among nominees for other college teaching awards. Caragea’s recognition reflects her deep commitment to student learning and the impactful teaching practices she brings to the classroom.
Mack Shelley, University Professor of Statistics, Political Science, and School of Education, received the Brian and Rondi Gardner Faculty Award, which honors history and political science faculty who demonstrate exemplary service and dedication to Iowa State students. Established in 2009, the Gardner Award recognizes faculty who go above and beyond in their commitment to student success and engagement. Read More.
Department of Statistics Faculty Honored with LAS Awards
The Department of Statistics is proud to share that several faculty members have been recognized with 2024–2025 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences awards for their outstanding contributions across teaching, mentoring, research, service, and outreach.
Recipients Include: Petruța Caragea, Wesley Cox, Ulrike Genschel, Ann Hawkins, Kevin Kasper, Peng Liu, Jarad Niemi, Cindy Yu, Laura Ziegler, and Zhengyuan Zhu.
Read more to learn which awards were received, how our faculty are being honored, and the reasons behind the award selections.
Jie Li Receives University’s Professional and Scientific Excellence Award
Jie Li, technical project specialist at the Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology, has been selected as a recipient of Iowa State University’s Professional and Scientific Excellence Award.
This award recognizes staff members who have been employed at Iowa State for at least five years and have demonstrated outstanding service, career advancement, and professional impact both within and beyond the university. Read More.
Fall 2024 Dean's List
Congratulations to the undergraduate statistics majors who made the Fall 2024 Dean's List by earning a semester GPA of 3.50 or above on at least 12-credit hours of graded or S-F courses. 2024 Dean's List.
Social Events
2025 International Dinner and Talent Show
Students, faculty, friends, and families gathered on Saturday, April 5, for the Department of Statistics’ annual International Dinner and Talent Show—a celebration of food, culture, and community. The evening featured an array of home-cooked dishes from around the world, followed by a variety of performances showcasing the many talents within our department. Read More.
Department Hosts End-of-Semester Ice Cream Social
On Wednesday, May 7, the Department of Statistics welcomed undergraduate and graduate students to its End-of-the-Semester Ice Cream Social on the South Lawn of Snedecor Hall. The event ran from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and offered students a well-earned break before finals, along with a chance to connect and celebrate the close of the spring semester.
Students enjoyed a variety of ice cream flavors provided by Iowa State University’s own Creamery and were invited to share their summer plans on sticky notes posted to a colorful board. Some plans were adventurous—surfing in Hawaii, hiking in Oregon, traveling to Italy and Greece—while others were more personal, like “having our first baby,” starting a John Deere internship, or learning to sing. Read More.
Spring Brunch Brings Together Stat Community for Food, Fun, and Fresh Air
Faculty, staff, students, and families gathered on Saturday, May 10, for the Department of Statistics’ annual Spring Brunch at Inis Grove Park. Hosted by the department’s Social Committee, the brunch offered a relaxed setting for conversation, community, and a delicious start to the weekend.
Held at the Walnut Shelter near Miracle Park, the event featured a warm and welcoming menu. Professor Mark Kaiser prepared his own take on eggs sofrito, while guests also enjoyed breakfast burrito bowls, freshly made crêpes with a variety of toppings, and drinks including Starbucks coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade, and water. Read More.
STAT-ers Game Night Brings Friendly Competition and Community
The STAT-ers Game Night on Friday, February 28, brought together nearly 30 participants for an evening of games, food, and fun. Held in Snedecor 3105, the event featured poker, euchre, and a variety of board games brought by attendees.
The highly anticipated poker tournament saw fierce competition, with Jingtao Shang claiming victory and Xiansi Ma finishing as the runner-up. Despite his reputation for winning STAT-ers Poker Tournaments, Department Chair Dan Nettleton did not take the title this year. Read More.
STAT-ers Play Intramural Broomball
The Snedecor Sweepers, a team of STAT-ers, took to the ice this semester for some fun and competitive intramural broomball! While the team didn’t come away with any wins this time around, they had an absolute blast competing together, showing incredible teamwork, and bringing their best energy to each game.
Resources
- Stay up to date by visiting the Department of Statistics website
- Support the department's mission by making a donation
- Do you have news to share with friends and alums of Statistics at ISU? If so, please send your news (attached photos encouraged) to kging@iastate.edu.