the importance of other abilities, such as listening,
negotiation, role definition, accurate but palatable
explanation of subtle ideas to nonstatisticians,
bridging cultural or interdisciplinary differences,
and eliciting the scientific or political context of our
©
technical contributions. These areas have presented
B
ob
and continue to present the greatest challenges for
P
ea
me as a statistician and as a mentor. The irony is
v
y
P
that I find I have grown in my ability to meet these
hot
challenges as I have sought to mentor these abilities
og
r
aph
in others.
y
2009
The Ceremony
The award ceremony was conducted by Emerson Elliott, From left: stephanie shipp, Kevin Cecco, Lillian Lin, emerson elliott,
Katherine Wallman, Andy Orlin, Stephanie Shipp, and Beth Kilss, and Andy Orlin at the award ceremony
Beth Kilss. Elliott, former U.S. Commissioner of Education
Statistics, chaired the ceremony. Wallman, chief statisti-
cian at the Office of Management and Budget and chair of
the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy, introduced
outgrowths of the tree and begin to sprout new branches.
the awardees and members of the audience. She also talked
Branches and leaves fall and are replaced by new leaves and
about the award during its early life. Andy Orlin, Jeanne E.
branches, and the process repeats itself, beginning anew. Also,
Griffith’s spouse, talked about Griffith and the motivation
as the leaves and fruit fall from the tree, they result in the
behind setting up the award. He said there was no better way
growth of new trees.
to remember her than to establish a mentoring award pro-
When Griffith died in August of 2001, Orlin planted a
gram that continues to nurture, educate, and create quality
Japanese maple sapling in their backyard as a living memory
leadership capabilities in junior staff in the federal statistical
of her. Though planted in ground made of clay and rock, he
agencies, the section of the federal government in which she
hoped the sapling would grow into a tall, beautiful, hardy tree.
was so proud to have worked. Shipp, senior researcher at the
And over the years, it has thrived and done so. The tree is now
Science and Technology Policy Institute, described the transi-
a healthy 12–15 feet tall.
tion of the award process to the Government Statistics Section.
Kilss, formerly of the IRS, presented Cecco’s award and read
Transition to the GSS
his citation. Elliott did the same for Lin. The ceremony con-
In 2007, Orlin and Elliott—two of the award’s founders—
cluded with a celebration of the awardees and a celebration of
approached the Government Statistics Section about manag-
Wallman’s birthday.
ing the award. When they met with the section’s board, there
The History
was no hesitation in taking on the leadership role; in fact,
there was much enthusiasm and delight in being asked. Carol
Jeanne E. Griffith worked for more than
House was chair of the section at the time, and ASA Director
25 years in the federal statistical system.
of Operations Steven Porzio and ASA Chapter and Sections
Throughout her career, and especially in
Coordinator Monica Clark were instrumental in ensuring a
her senior management positions at the
smooth transition.
National Center for Education Statistics
The Government Statistics Section will not only administer
and National Science Foundation, one of
the award process from now on, but will—as a priority—raise
Griffith’s highest priorities was to mentor
the visibility of the award by emphasizing the importance of
and encourage junior staff to learn, grow,
mentoring across the federal government, and particularly the
and recognize and seize career opportuni-
federal statistical community.
Griffith
ties. After her death from breast cancer in
2001, the Jeanne E. Griffith Mentoring
Sponsoring the Award
Award was set up to honor her memory by encouraging
The Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics
mentoring of junior staff in the federal statistical system.
(COPAFS) and American Educational Research Association
Each year, awardees are presented a plaque with a tree
(AERA) joined GSS in providing financial support for the
engraved in the center. Orlin said that in designing the plaque,
award. Members of the award committee would like to thank
the committee was looking for a symbol that would represent
Ed Spar of COPAFS and Felice Levine of AERA for their
the mentoring and training function. They finally hit upon
generous support. Other sponsors for 2009 include the ASA’s
a tree with its branches and leaves. From the sturdy, well-
Social Statistics Section, Washington Statistical Society, and
seasoned, and developed trunk emanate branches and leaves,
Interagency Council on Statistical Policy.
the latter being nurtured and supported by the strength of
the trunk. Over time, young, fragile branches become strong
AUGUST 2009 AmstAt News 53
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