Statistics profession focus of career day

Students interested in careers in statistics will have the opportunity to network with local organizations and hear professionals discuss popular, and lesser-known, careers in the field.

The Statistics Department will host its Statistics Career Day Friday, November 20, in the Kirkhof Center Grand River Room. Exhibitor tables will be open for student networking from 10 a.m. until noon. Exhibitors include Meijer, Steelcase, Perrigo, Priority Health, Waddell & Reed, Inc., Ally Insurance and many more.

Following the networking portion of the event, David Morganstein, American Statistical Association president, will give his keynote address, “Communications in Statistics: A Two Way Street,” at 12:30 p.m.

“The main theme that I hope the audience will understand from Dr. Morganstein’s address is that mutual, effective communication between a statistician and others on a given project is critical for the successful accomplishment of desired goals,” said Robert Downer, Statistics Career Day committee chair and biostatistics masters program director.

A series of breakout sessions will occur after Morganstein’s address from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Morgenstein also currently acts as the vice president and director of statistical staff at Westat, Inc., where he has worked for more than 38 years and directs a unit of 70 statisticians. Morganstein specializes in the design and application of surveys and systems of evaluation, quality control, statistical analysis and estimation.

Downer said the career day will shine light on some lesser-known careers in statistics, including predictive modelers for large credit companies or insurance firms, or biometry, which applies statistical methods to ecology or fisheries.

For more information and to register, visit the Statistics Department website or contact Robert Downer at [email protected] or (616) 331-2247.