Dr. Schmid named American Statistical Association fellow

Kendra Schmid, PhD, UNMC’s interim associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and a professor of biostatistics in the UNMC College of Public Health, has been elected as a fellow of the American Statistical Association.

The selection as an ASA fellow is a prestigious honor from the world’s largest community of statisticians and data scientists.

According to the association, fellows must have an established reputation in the field and have made outstanding contributions to statistical science – and only one-third of 1 percent of association members can be elected as fellows each year.

Dr. Schmid joined the UNMC faculty in 2007. Her research involves statistical shape analysis and methods for face recognition applications. She has been active in statistics education and collaborative research, receiving awards in both areas.

Said UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD: “On behalf of the entire UNMC community, I congratulate Dr. Schmid on her election as a fellow of the ASA. This well-deserved recognition is a testament to her numerous leadership and advocacy roles in the ASA over the years that have played a pivotal role in advancing the field of biostatistics.

“It is also a recognition of her exemplary research, teaching and mentorship, which have helped shape and integrate statistical methodologies into critical health sciences research and training and impacted UNMC and the academia nationally and beyond.”

Ali S. Khan, MD, MPH, dean of the UNMC College of Public Health, praised Dr. Schmid for receiving “a rare and prestigious distinction.”

“Professor Kendra Schmid’s elevation to this rank highlights her exceptional contributions to the statistical profession and her unwavering dedication to the mission of UNMC,” he said. “It is a proud day for our entire university.”

Said Ying Zhang, PhD, chair of the department of biostatistics in the UNMC College of Public Health: “This recognition by the American Statistical Association highlights not only Dr. Schmid’s scholarly and educational contribution as a biostatistician, but also her deep commitment to service and leadership within the profession. Our department is proud to celebrate this important achievement with her.”

Dr. Schmid said, “Selection as an ASA Fellow is a meaningful recognition. The list of fellows includes giants of the statistics profession — past presidents, authors of foundational texts and scholars whose names define theorems, measures and tests in statistics. Many are widely recognized even beyond statisticians, and it’s a privilege to be included among professionals I’ve long admired.”

The incoming class of ASA fellows will be recognized on Aug. 4, at the Joint Statistical Meetings in Boston.

According to the American Statistical Association, its members serve in industry, government and academia in more than 90 countries, advancing research, science and technology and promoting sound statistical practice. The designation of ASA fellows dates back for nearly 100 years.