We are proud to announce that Daniela Witten, Professor of Statistics and Biostatistics, Dorothy Gilford endowed Chair of Mathematical Statistics, has received the prestigious 2022 President’s Award from the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies (COPSS). She has been recognized for her contributions towards statistical machine learning, with applications to biology, and for communicating the fundamental ideas in the field to a broad audience. Her award was announced at this year’s Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) on August 10, 2022.
“I’m immensely grateful to the statistical community for this recognition, and for this career that is so fulfilling scientifically, professionally, and personally,” says Witten. “None of my successes as faculty would have been possible without the support that I have received from my departments at UW: UW Biostatistics since 2010, and UW Statistics since 2014. I am immensely grateful for the culture of collegiality, collaboration, and kindness among the faculty and staff that has given me the opportunity to flourish --- even when some of my endeavors have been a bit off-the-beaten-path. Thanks to all of you for your support!”
In addition, Witten says, “And, to give credit where it is due.... the vast majority of my contributions to the field of statistics were made in collaboration with UW Stat/Biostat PhD students. So --- many thanks to 12 years of fantastic PhD students in UW Biostat/Stat. My current and former students deserve much of the credit for my work.”
COPSS is comprised of five sponsoring statistical societies that include the American Statistical Association (ASA), the Statistical Society of Canada (SSC), the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS), the Eastern North American Region of the International Biometric Society (ENAR), and the Western North American Region of the International Biometric Society (WNAR). COPSS sponsors and presents the COPSS Presidents' Award annually to a young member (aged 40 or under) of the statistical community in recognition of outstanding contributions to the profession of statistics. The award, established in 1976, consists of a plaque and a cash honorarium, and is presented annually at the Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM).