Robinson Elected to Executive Committee of ASA’s Section of Statistics and Data Science Education

Samantha Robinson, director of data science for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, teaching associate professor and Julia A. Hicks Endowed Chair in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, has been elected by the American Statistical Association membership to serve a two-year term on the executive committee of the Section of Statistics and Data Science Education starting from January 2023.

The mission of the Section of Statistics and Data Science Education is to “promote the teaching and learning of data-driven inquiry at any level for any audience” and works tirelessly to promote improvements to statistics and data science education.

The section supports the development of courses, programs and curricula that serve all individuals, ranging from those who will not utilize statistical methods professionally but should appreciate evidence-based inquiry and results, to those who will work in areas where statistical techniques offer the most efficient procedure for attacking unsolved problems, to those who will pursue careers as statisticians and data scientists in industry, academia or government.

The section strives to “improve the pipeline from K-12 through two-year colleges, four-year colleges and universities to statistics and data science professionals” by disseminating information, organizing programs and cooperatively communicating with other societies, associations and otherwise relevant stakeholders. The executive committee oversees and provides leadership for the entire SSDSE section.

Robinson serves as course coordinator for all sections of Principles of Statistics (STAT 2303) and Biostatistics (STAT 2823), which have an annual student enrollment of approximately 1,500-1,700 students. She drafted the Arkansas Course Transfer System learning objectives for Principles of Statistics, directly impacting all two-year and four-year institutions in the state of Arkansas, and recently helped to align K-12 and college-level statistics and data science education objectives while serving on the Arkansas Mathematics Pathways Task Force Alignment Working Group.

Robinson’s extensive experience in statistics and data science education at all levels makes her particularly well-suited for this SSDSE executive committee role.

“I am thrilled to have been elected for this role and look forward to serving on this committee of nationally recognized statisticians and statistical educators,” Robinson said. “I am particularly excited to work alongside my fellow committee members to improve educational opportunities in statistics and data science for all individuals, at all levels, regardless of where they live.”

In recent years, Robinson has led groups of student researchers to conferences, presenting statistical research that has resulted in publications, oral presentations, poster presentations and numerous awards for the student researchers. Robinson has also been recently recognized for her distinguished university teaching and her contribution to statistics education at the university, regional and national levels.

Robinson has been teaching in the Department of Mathematical Sciences in a variety of different roles for approximately 10 years, with her first full-time teaching appointment in 2013.

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.

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