The 2012 Joint Statistical Meetings Diversity Workshop and Mentoring Program is a multi-day activity which will take place during the 2012 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) in San Diego. It will consist of a series of interactive sessions and small group mentoring activities which aim to

1. Establish critical mentoring and networking relationships for minority statisticians at early- to mid-career levels (i.e., undergraduate students, graduate students, early statistics professionals); 2. Motivate students to pursue graduate study and careers in statistics; 3. Share best practices for recruiting and mentoring minority students and faculty; and 4. Increase the active participation of minorities in the American Statistical Association.

Participants in the workshop and mentoring program include underrepresented minority graduate students in statistics or biostatistics programs; top minority undergraduates in statistics, mathematics, or related disciplines; minority statisticians in academia, government, and the private sector; key faculty from minority-serving institutions who advise and mentor undergraduates in math or related disciplines; and faculty influential in the faculty and/or student recruitment processes at their home institutions.

This program is unique in that it does not limit its focus to students only, but also provides opportunities to benefit early career professionals. It is further unique in its holistic approach to career development which allows individuals to participate in the program as both mentor and protégé simultaneously. These elements help create a community of support and accountability for the success of all involved.

This awarded is supported jointly by the Infrastructure Program and the Statistics Program within the Division of Mathematics.

Project Report

Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE The 2013 JSM Diversity Mentoring Program was held Sunday, August 4 through Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at the Joint Statistical Meetings in Montreal, Canada. Eleven mentor-mentee pairs participated in the program, along with additional guests and invited contributors. The program opened with a welcome dinner, where mentors and protégés met, and included three scheduled sessions for the entire mentor and protégé group. On Monday morning, participants heard from Drs. Jesse Ng (NC State University), Maisha Gray-Diggs (Procter and Gamble), and Brian Millen (Lilly) on the topics of Career Search and Keys to Career Success. On Tuesday, participants heard from Drs. Sydeaka Watson (Univ of Chicago), Kimberly Weems (NC State University), Jeffrey Wilson (Arizona State University), Neal Jeffries (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute), and Dionne Swift (Procter and Gamble) who shared various career paths for individuals with statistics degrees. On Wednesday, participants took part in a round-table discussion on issues proposed by the protégés. In addition to the scheduled sessions, mentors and mentees met one-to-one throughout the meeting and participated in some JSM activities together, such as the JSM opening mixer and the ASA Committee on Minorities in Statistics’ networking mixer. Evaluations of the program indicate that the sessions met the learning objectives and were very well-received by both the mentees and the mentors. Follow-up from the program has revealed enduring relationships between mentors and protégés. In addition, the group uses social media to stay connected with one another. The 2012 JSM Diversity Workshop and Mentoring Program took place Sunday, July 29 through Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at the Joint Statistical Meetings in San Diego, California. Approximately 75 individuals participated in the program. A summary of the program sessions is given below. Sunday (full-day workshop): Keynote address by Jackie Hughes-Oliver, Professor of Statistics, North Carolina State University. Dr. Hughes spoke from the topic "Success is a journey, not a destination." Through metaphor of successful travel she talked about career success from student life through post-graduate life. She also shared the troubling statistics on the lack of diversity for mathematics and statistics PhD’s awarded, as well as the inspirational stories of pioneering statisticians of color such as David Blackwell. Career Success: Tips and Traps A panel of successful statisticians in academia, government and industry offered advice for career success and responded to audience questions. The role of mentoring throughout ones career was a prominent theme. Panelists included Dr. Sastry Pantula (NSF, NC State), Dr. Bob Bell (AT&T Labs), Dr. Dionne Price (FDA), Dr. Alicia Carriquiry (Iowa State University), Dr. Tommy Wright (US Census Bureau), and Dr. Nancy Geller (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute). Graduate School Success A panel of current and recent graduate students, as well as select faculty members, offered candid feedback and advice to current students. Mentoring Overview Ric Weibl of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) offered foundational principles for mentoring relationships . Immediately following his presentation, mentors and mentees were matched to make initial connections. One-to-one mentoring discussions then occurred throughout the JSM conference. Dynamics of Trust Dr. Brian Millen (Lilly) facilitated a discussion on the importance of trust in workplace relationships, potential cross-cultural barriers to trust, and tools for giving and earning trust in the workplace. The session consisted of case studies and discussion of practical applications. Careers in Statistics This session consisted of short presentations by statisticians in government, private sector, and academia sharing career opportunities and how to prepare for them. Presenters included Dr. Loni Philip Tabb (Drexel Univ), Dr. Dionne Swift (Procter and Gamble), Ms. Kendra Jones (St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital), Dr. Ryan Hafen and Susan Senner (Pacific National Laboratories). ASA: More than Just JSM In this session, leaders from ASA shared the many opportunities to get involved in service to the profession through ASA and other societies. Presenters included ASA President, Dr. Bob Rodriguez (SAS), Dr. Dionne Price (FDA), and Dr. Alicia Carriquiry (Iowa State University). Monday Best Practices for Recruiting and Retaining Students and Faculty from underrepresented groups In this session a panel of academic leaders who have been very successful in recruiting and retaining diverse students and faculty shared advice on successful approaches. Panelists consisted of Dr. Sastry Pantula (NSF, NC State University), Dr. Castillo-Chavez (Arizona State University), and Dr. Kathryn Chaloner (University of Iowa). Tuesday I Can Do This! In this session, Dr. Sonia Ruiz, psychologist, facilitated discussion on potential barriers to success (such as stereotype threat) for members of underrepresented groups, along with means to overcome these barriers. Wednesday Roundtable Discussion In this session, issues raised by protégés in the program were discussed in an open roundtable format. Follow-up from the program has revealed enduring relationships between mentors and protégés. In addition, the group uses social media to stay connected with one another.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
1136920
Program Officer
Jennifer Pearl
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2011-08-15
Budget End
2013-12-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$20,000
Indirect Cost
Name
American Statistical Association
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Alexandria
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
22314