2026 ASA President Mulrow: Communities in Action Advancing Society

Jeri Mulrow, MS, Vice President and Sector Lead for Data Solutions at Westat, will serve as the 121st President of the American Statistical Association (ASA), starting in January 2026. With a career spanning leadership roles across statistics, data science, and data operations, she brings a deep understanding of how integrated approaches can drive innovation and improve research processes. As she prepares to take on this prominent role in the nation’s second-oldest professional association—founded in 1839—Mulrow discusses her vision for ASA, the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration, and her advice for the next generation of statisticians.

ASA Leadership

Q. What inspired you to pursue leadership within ASA, and what does it mean to you to serve as ASA President?

A. Serving as an elected President of ASA is truly a top honor of my lifetime, with the other being an ASA Fellow. The ASA has been my professional home since I was a graduate student in statistics at Colorado State. I have been a member since the early 1980s and have served in many volunteer positions throughout my membership. When I was asked to run as a candidate for president, I was excited for the opportunity to serve my profession and to help lead statistics and data science into the future.

I am an applied statistician with nearly 40 years of experience. I spent the majority of my statistical career in service to the federal statistical system to provide critical data and information to the public to inform policy decisions. I thrive on the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and continuously expand my knowledge. I have a passion for statistics and data science and am deeply grateful to be able to share that through my ASA presidency and my leadership roles throughout my career, including now at Westat.

Although the ASA name includes the word “American,” it is an international organization with members worldwide. ASA’s vision is for a world that relies on data and statistical thinking to drive discovery and inform decisions. Its mission is to promote the practice and profession of statistics. These are in total alignment with my personal views and professional activities.

Communities in Action

Q. As ASA President in 2026, what are your top priorities for the association and the broader statistical profession?

A. In my statement for candidacy for election, I wrote, “If elected, I will work to support activities that engage our next generations and inspire them to be advocates and principled practitioners of statistics and data science. To me, this means supporting statistical and data science literacy at all levels…and communicating our value to governments and individuals globally.”

By combining these thoughts, I have come up with a theme and an initiative for my year: Communities in Action. The goal is to equip ASA members with the skills and knowledge to engage with their local communities and effectively communicate the value of data-driven decisions. The aim is to increase members’ engagement with local issues, enhance communication with policymakers, and improve decision-making. Benefits for communities include a clearer understanding of data and how to use data for personal and community decisions.

Q. How do you see the role of statistics evolving in response to current global challenges?

A. Data are being generated constantly in every aspect of daily life—from wearable devices that track our health and activity to the millions of financial transactions made each day. Advances in technology allow us to process and extract valuable insights from a wide range of data types, including images, video, text, and voice. The scale and variety of these data highlight just how pervasive and powerful it has become in shaping how we live, work, and understand the world. While the foundations of statistical theory remain as important as ever, the practice and profession of statistics and data science are advancing to keep pace with this rapidly changing digital data landscape.

Q. How can statisticians better collaborate with professionals in other disciplines to improve evidence-based decision-making?

A. This is a great question. Statisticians and data scientists love being part of interdisciplinary teams, helping solve challenging problems with data. Collaborations are occurring in many places, but we can always build more collaborations and improve on the existing ones. To help build more collaborations, my ASA presidential initiative, Communities in Action, will develop a toolkit of materials to assist statisticians and data scientists in engaging with local community members, including council members, school boards, local leaders, and more, to start those conversations. Meaningful collaborations occur when we actively listen to each other and develop solutions that reflect everyone’s contributions.

Career Advice

Q. What advice do you have for early-career statisticians who want to contribute meaningfully to the profession and potentially step into leadership roles?

A. Early career statisticians have many of the necessary technical skills to be part of interdisciplinary teams to solve interesting problems. Learn to be a good collaborator and communicator. Don’t be afraid to ask questions—they help clarify the problem, reveal what’s needed, guide the next steps, and improve communication and collaboration.

Also, be flexible and adaptable. Start with a plan, be ready to adjust as new information or circumstances arise, and always maintain sound statistical and ethical practices. It’s not always easy to change course, but those closest to the data play a key role in flagging issues early. Timely communication helps avoid costly revisions later and allows for smaller, more manageable adjustments.

Finally, seek mentorship outside of your immediate circles. Talking with statisticians or data scientists outside your project can spark new ideas, highlight potential issues, and offer valuable guidance. While maintaining confidentiality, reach out to more experienced professionals who may have faced similar challenges or know useful resources. They can also offer career advice or point you toward leadership opportunities. Don’t hesitate to connect—many of us are eager to give back. Find your professional home as I have with the ASA.

As I look forward to my role as 2026 ASA President, I’m reminded that this position represents more than a personal milestone; it underscores the essential contributions of our profession. It affirms the pivotal role statisticians and data scientists play in advancing knowledge, fostering public trust, and driving evidence-based decisions that lead to a more informed and resilient society.