key role in establishing Berger, Francesca Domenici, him in 1998 for the design A. H. Robins in Richmond,
Mathematical Statistics and and Thomas Lumley. and development of the Virginia. In 1977, he moved
Biostatistics departments S language. The competi- to Burroughs-Wellcome
at The University of North tion is open to small teams in Research Triangle Park,
Carolina at Chapel Hill and
Yihui Xie
of developers (which must North Carolina. He was head
a Statistical Division at the Yihui Xie of the Renmin include at least one student of the Clinical Information
then newly founded not- University of China was or recent graduate) who have and Statistics Department
for-profit RTI. She served as recently awarded the John designed and implemented a from 1981–1985 and then
president of the ASA in 1957. M. Chambers Award for piece of statistical software. director of the Clinical Data
This award is made pos- 2009 for his submission The award includes a Processing and Statistics
sible by funding from RTI, “animation,” an R pack- prize of $1,000, a plaque, Division from 1985–1991.
and the recipient is chosen age for using graphical and a travel allowance for He then moved to Parke-
by a six-person committee. and other animations to attending JSM (with reg- Davis in Ann Arbor,
This year’s committee con- communicate the results istration covered by the Michigan, where he was vice
sists of Paul Biemer, Nabil of statistical simulations. Statistical Computing and president of technical opera-
El-Khorazaty, Phil Kott, The John M. Chambers Graphics Section). Xie tions from 1991–1996 and
Michael P. Cohen, John Award is endowed by John will be presented with his vice president of clinical plan-
Eltinge, and Karol Krotki. Chambers’ donation of the award during the Statistical ning and logistics from 1996–
Past recipients of the award Software System Award of the Computing and Graphics 1997. In 1994, Cummings
include Sharon Lohr, Alan Association for Computing Section mixer at JSM 2009. received the Parke-Davis
Zaslavsky, Tom Belin, Vance Machinery, presented to Career Development
Managerial Award.
Obituary
Cummings practiced and
Walter Cummings
supported effective leadership
and emphasized teamwork
walter through the integration of
Bradley statistical, clinical data man-
Cummings, agement, medical writing,
67, died and technical support activi-
December ties. He invested energy in
4, 2008, at development of nontechni-
Statistics Students
Longwood cal, transferable ‘soft skills.’
Cummings
Park in He resisted domination of
Inducted into
Clarksville, the clinical data manage-
Virginia. Native to Ithaca, ment function by corporate
New York, Cummings information technology and
Mu sigma Rho
was a graduate of North strongly believed clinical
Carolina State University support functions should
(PhD, statistics, 1972; MS, be independent of market-
applied math, 1966; BS, ing. Cummings prioritized
e
leven undergraduate and 31 graduate statistics students
applied math, 1962). the development of the
were inducted into Mu Sigma Rho Honor Society on
He served as a lieuten- skills of those who reported
April 14, 2009, during a banquet at North Carolina
ant in the U.S. Army from to him and created oppor-
State University. Charles Smith, a professor at the university,
1962–1965. He was a tunities at multiple levels
presided over the banquet and entertained the audience with
senior operations analyst for those with promise of
several pre-dinner ice-breaking games.
at General Dynamics from initiative, leadership, and/or
Director of Undergraduate Programs Roger Woodard
1967–1969 and an assistant outstanding technical skills.
introduced the undergraduate inductees, and Co-Director
professor of biometry at the He made every effort to
of Graduate Programs Pam Arroway introduced the gradu-
Medical College of Virginia advance the careers of those
ate inductees. Smith, the faculty advisor, distributed the Mu
from 1972–1974, where he he managed, even when it
Sigma Rho certificates to the new members.
received the Outstanding resulted in the individual
ASA President-elect Sastry Pantula gave a brief speech about
Teacher Award in 1974 leaving his organization to
the history of Mu Sigma Rho and the ASA. In his address, he
from the Department of accept a better position.
emphasized to the inductees the importance of being active
Hospital Administration. Cummings’ managerial
and engaged with professional associations and with the NC
Cummings began his philosophy is best exemplified
State Department of Statistics as they move up in their profes-
career in the pharmaceutical by his work at Parke-Davis.
sional careers. He ended his comments with how Mu, Sigma,
industry in 1975 as a senior when he arrived there in
and Rho are the bread and butter of statisticians. n
research statistician at 1991, Technical Operations
62 AmstAt News JUNE 2009
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