Mu Sigma Rho:
The National Statistics Honorary Society

Mu Sigma Rho is the national honorary society for statistics. Its purpose is the promotion and encouragement of scholarly activity in statistics, and the recognition of outstanding achievement among the students and instructional staff in eligible academic institutions.

Mu Sigma Rho involves graduate students at all levels, undergraduates, faculty and professional statisticians. Activities include outreach and service to the profession.

 

Fall Lecture Webinar

Please join us for the Mu Sigma Rho Fall Lecture featuring Josh Starmer, founder of StatQuest.

Title: StatQuest: Origins plus musings on the intersection of Statistics and Machine Learning
Abstract: Although closely related, subtle but important differences separate machine learning practitioners from statisticians. In this talk, we will use statistical linear models to highlight these differences. Then, we will show how to overcome them by combining linear models with regularization, a machine learning method. The end result gives us the best of both statistics and machine learning in the form of a model that allows us to investigate mechanisms while being amenable to big datasets.

Time: Friday, 10 October at 11 AM (Eastern Time)
Location: North Carolina State University SAS Hall Room 2203
Web: Zoom (link will be included on the day of the event)

2025 Award Recipients

Lisa Grossbauer of Ursinus College

Recipient of the 2025 William D. Warde Statistics Education Award

Dr. Lisa Grossbauer has dedicated her eleven-year career at Ursinus College to making sure all students interested in statistics receive the best possible education that allows them to pursue their goals regardless of their backgrounds. She is a tireless advocate for students coming from marginalized groups that put them at a competitive disadvantage compared to their peers. She weaves her industry experience into her meticulously planned curricula so that students can see practical applications to the statistical concept she teaches. She has quietly shepherded the statistics program at Ursinus College throughout her time there and is the primary faculty member responsible not only for its growth and success, but also for the success of the junior faculty who have come after her. Her research in overcoming barriers in mathematical and statistical education dovetail with her devotion to her students’ learning. She embodies all the elements that the William D. Warde Award was designed to recognize, and we are proud to nominate her for this prestigious recognition.

 

Nicole Dalzell of Wake Forest University

Recipient of the 2025 Early Career Undergraduate Impact Award

Dr. Nicole Dalzell has made important contributions to teaching and mentoring in statistics at Wake Forest University and beyond. Since arriving at Wake Forest, Dr. Dalzell has played a key role in the growth of the Department of Statistical Sciences and its major and minor programs, creating five new courses to expand the curriculum with important, modern concepts in statistics and data science. She regularly teaches the introductory statistics sequence, and has helped guide its development to incorporate statistical computing, hands-on projects, and extensive experience with real-world data. Dr. Dalzell is a highly sought-after research mentor at Wake Forest, supervising dozens of independent studies, capstone projects, and senior theses. In addition, she has expanded opportunities for students to engage with real, challenging data through data analysis competitions such as ASA DataFest, which she coordinates each year at Wake Forest, and for which she created an additional seminar course to give introductory students the skills needed to participate. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Dalzell lends her teaching expertise to other educators at Wake Forest and in the broader statistics education community. She is the go-to pedagogy expert in the Department of Statistical Sciences, and has helped foster faculty mentoring through the ASA Section on Statistics and Data Science Education mentoring program, for which she is a previous committee member and chair, and current volunteer mentor. She regularly shares her teaching scholarship through journal publications, webinars, and conference presentations.

Call for Nominations

Call for Nominations: Mu Sigma Rho Early Career Undergraduate Impact Award (PDF)

Call for Nominations: Mu Sigma Rho William D. Warde Statistics Education Award (PDF)

Previous Recipients:

Information and Important Links

Join Mu Sigma Rho (PDF)

Start a Mu Sigma Rho Chapter (PDF)

Current National Officers (PDF)

Chapters and their Representatives (PDF)

Constitution and Bylaws (PDF)

Archived Mu Sigma Rho Newsletters

Alpha Chapter Charter

Awards (PDF)