Rhonda Bacher elected president of American Statistical Association’s Florida chapter

Bacher, Rhonda
Dr. Rhonda Bacher

Rhonda Bacher, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of biostatistics at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, has been elected president of the Florida chapter of the American Statistical Association for a two-year term.

The ASA Florida Chapter aims to foster statistics and its applications, and to promote unity and effectiveness among all groups in the state having an interest in statistical problems.

“My goal is to improve outreach and connections among existing members, students and practicing statisticians/data scientists across the state of Florida,” said Bacher, who previously served as the chapter’s information officer in 2019 and most recently as secretary/treasurer for the 2021-2023 term.

Three students posed outside
UF students Xiaoru Dong (left) and Yipeng Wang (right), pictured with Wei Zhang of the University of Miami, received presentation awards. Not pictured: UF student Yuan Zhou who received an oral presentation award.

The ASA Florida Chapter presents an annual meeting that is hosted by one of the nine member organizations across the state. The University of Florida hosted the chapter’s most recent meeting on March 24-25 in Gainesville. The meeting featured keynote presentations by Ann Chen, Ph.D., a senior member in the department of biostatistics and bioinformatics at Moffitt Cancer Center and a professor in the departments of biostatistics and epidemiology & oncologic sciences at the University of South Florida; Michael Daniels, Sc.D., a professor and chair of the UF department of statistics; and Ira Longini, Ph.D., a professor in the UF department of biostatistics.

Three UF Ph.D. in biostatistics students were selected for awards in the meeting’s paper and poster competition. Yuan Zhou and Yipeng Wang received awards for their oral presentations, and Xiaoru Dong was recognized for her poster presentation.

group of people posed outside HPNP Complex
UF hosted the 2023 annual meeting of the Florida chapter of the American Statistical Association.