Nicholas Horton for ASA President

The American Statistical Association serves members in a world dependent on data. The growing role of data science and the rapid dissemination of sophisticated AI tools and models raise important questions for us as a profession. As President, I would work to strengthen the ASA as a visible, influential, and inclusive professional home for statisticians, data scientists, and analysts across academia, industry, and government.

Promoting the Practice and Profession of Statistics

Statistics plays a critical role in science, policy, business, and public life. The ASA must continue to promote the practice and profession of statistics, communicate its value to society, and elevate the voice of statisticians in public discourse. At the same time, we must foster excellence in statistical methods and practice, uphold strong ethical standards, and engage thoughtfully with rapid advances in computing and AI.

The ASA’s public policy work is an important part of this effort, and I would work to expand our impact in this area. As President, I would:

Launch an ASA rapid-response panel of expert statisticians to comment on important public issues.
Build on our existing media training opportunities to help prepare the next generation of statisticians to engage with the media and public.
Develop a “Statistics in the News” initiative to highlight the role of statistics in current events and public discourse and to translate from research to accessible explanations.
Host cross-disciplinary forums on AI to address algorithmic accountability, fairness, and responsible AI use.

Improving Statistics and Data Science Education

Education is central to the vitality of our discipline. I have committed much of my career to strengthening statistics and data science education. We need to work to ensure that statistics remains a vibrant and attractive choice for the next generation of students. But technical skill without an ethical foundation is not enough. The next generations of statisticians and data scientists must be responsible stewards of data. I would:

Support and expand the ASA’s K-12 education efforts, including the development of high-quality curricular materials and teacher training.
Promulgate resources such as the GAISE report to further integrate computing, simulation, and real data into statistics courses from day one.
Support the increased use of active learning, inclusive pedagogy, and high impact practices in statistics and data science classrooms.
Expand efforts to support statistics and data science education at the undergraduate level and graduate level, through workshops, mentoring programs, and support for early-career researchers.
Develop guidance on responsible use of AI tools in statistics and data science classrooms.
Convene a group to develop modules on ethics, algorithmic fairness, bias, and responsible AI for integration into statistics and data science courses.

Education is central to the vitality of our discipline. If we modernize our curriculum, support educators, integrate computing and ethics, and broaden access, we can ensure that statistics remains not only relevant, but essential.

Leveraging and Supporting our Members

Our members are the ASA’s most valuable asset. The ASA supports statisticians not just at one moment, but across an entire professional lifetime. With diverse and evolving career paths, we need to support statisticians at all stages of their careers, communicate the value of membership and engagement, and expand opportunities for collaboration, service, and professional connection. As chair of the ASA’s Membership Council, I saw firsthand how attracting, engaging, and retaining the next generation of members is essential to our future.

To support this important work, I would:

Work to expand structured mentoring networks (from student throughout senior career levels).
Improve transparency to facilitate increased opportunities for early-career members to serve in leadership roles and on committees.
Develop a “Career Pathways” initiative to provide resources and support for members in diverse career paths, including academia, industry, government, and non-traditional roles.
Expand opportunities for members to connect and collaborate across disciplines, sectors, and career stages through virtual and in-person events, workshops, and conferences.

Our members are the heart of the ASA. By supporting statisticians at every career stage, strengthening cross-sector connections, and creating meaningful opportunities for engagement and leadership, we can ensure that our professional community remains future focused and inclusive.

Why I Am Running for President

I have had the privilege of serving the ASA in multiple leadership roles, including as Chapter Rep to the Board of the Board of Directors and as Vice President, where I worked to build consensus across our diverse membership. As President, I would focus on strengthening the Association, ensuring financial stability, and advancing the ASA’s mission to promote the practice and profession of statistics for the public good.