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Department of Statistics

Celebrating Excellence: Faculty and Student Achievements in the Department of Statistics

June 16, 2025

We would like to proudly recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our faculty and students during the 2024–2025 academic year. These accolades reflect our community’s dedication to excellence in research, teaching, mentorship, and service.

Faculty Honors

  • Dr. Justin Post received the Cavell Brownie Mentoring Faculty Award for his exceptional mentorship, particularly of junior faculty. His commitment to fostering a supportive environment and promoting best practices in teaching has significantly enhanced our department’s educational mission.
  • Dr. Subhashis Ghoshal was honored with the D.D. Mason Faculty Award in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to mathematical statistics, probability theory, and asymptotic methods, especially in high- and infinite-dimensional Bayesian inference. His exemplary research has brought significant distinction to NC State and our department.
  • Dr. Erin Schliep earned the Dennis Boos Citizenship Faculty Award for her dedicated service to the department. This year, she led a successful tenure-track faculty search, contributed to the Big Ideas presentation to College leadership, and actively participated in various departmental initiatives.
  • Dr. Ana-Maria Staicu has been named a 2025 Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA). This prestigious designation is awarded to no more than one-third of one percent of ASA members annually, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field of statistics.
  • Dr. Logan Opperman was recognized by the NCSU College of Sciences with the LeRoy and Elva Martin Award for Teaching Excellence.
  • Dr. Emily Griffith earned the 2025 NCSU Libraries Faculty Award for her collaborative efforts across campus, and her partnership with the Libraries through her service as Director of Consulting for the Data Science and AI Academy.
  • Dr. Brian Reich will receive the 2025 ASA Section on Statistics and the Environment (ENVR) Distinguished Achievement Award at the 2025 Joint Statistical Meetings.

Leadership Restructure and Transitions

The department is transitioning its infrastructure from a Director of Graduate Programs and a Director of Online Programs to a Director of Ph.D. Programs and Director of Master’s Programs beginning this summer. The restructuring will allow for better, more concentrated focus on the programs at the respective levels.

  • Dr. Wenbin Lu will transition from Director of Graduate Programs to the role of co-Associate Department Head on July 1, 2025. His leadership and contributions have been instrumental in advancing our department’s mission.
  • Dr. Jonathan Stallrich will assume the role of Director of Ph.D. Programs effective July 1, 2025. Since joining our department in 2014, Dr. Stallrich has focused his research on experimental design and statistical collaboration, earning accolades such as the 2021 ASA Statistics in Physical and Engineering Sciences Award.
  • Dr. Xinge (Jessie) Jeng will become the Director of Master’s Programs effective July 1, 2025. Dr. Jeng, who has been with our department since 2012, has been recognized for her excellence in instruction and advising, including features in NCSU’s “Thank A Teacher” program and the ASA’s Amstat News publication.
  • We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Justin Post for his dedicated service as Director of Online Programs since 2018. His efforts have been pivotal in developing the infrastructure of our online Master’s program.

Graduate Student Awards

  • Elizabeth Davis received the BB Bhattacharyya Graduate Excellence Award, recognizing her outstanding academic performance and contributions to the field of statistics.
  • James Robertson was honored with the Paige Plagge Award, given to a graduate student with an outstanding academic record who exemplifies good citizenship within the department.
  • Peng Cheng earned the Rawlings Family Award for Communication in Data Science, highlighting excellence in effectively communicating complex data science concepts.
  • Wei Zhao received the William H. Swallow Fellowship Award, which supports graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence and express an interest in pursuing a career in academia.
  • Naman Pujani was awarded the William Mendenhall Graduate Award for Excellence in Teaching of Statistics, recognizing his exceptional teaching abilities and commitment to statistical education.
  • Jake Koerner earned the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award for his exemplary performance and dedication as a teaching assistant.
  • Amy Carpenter received the Francis Giesbrecht Award for Statistical Consulting, acknowledging her outstanding contributions to statistical consulting projects.
  • Siqi Cao was honored with the Gertrude M. Cox Academic Achievement Award, which recognizes academic excellence among graduate students in statistics.

Undergraduate Student Awards

  • Zoe Curtis received both the Statistics Outstanding Research Award and the Statistics Outstanding Scholarship Award, demonstrating her exceptional research capabilities and academic achievements.
  • Saumya Gangwal was honored with the Statistics Outstanding Community Engagement Award, recognizing her significant contributions to community service and engagement.
  • Christian Nielsen earned the Outstanding Transfer Student Senior Award, celebrating his remarkable impact and achievements as a transfer student.
  • Manny Cantey was named a Solomon Scholar, a prestigious program that offers competitive scholarships and development opportunities to students exhibiting superior academic credentials and potential scientific leadership.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all awardees and appointees. Your dedication and achievements continue to elevate our Department and community.