Register to attend the Women in Statistics + Data Science discussion panel scheduled to be held on Friday, October 3 starting at 4:30 PM in the Illini Union Illini Rooms ABC. Guest speakers will share their stories and insights on their experiences as a woman in the statistics and data science fields. Audiences will have an opportunity to ask questions and network with guests during this exciting evening.
Register before September 26 to guarantee a seat at this event.
Event Statement:
The Women in Statistics + Data Science event, hosted by the Department of Statistics' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee with support from the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences, is part of a larger effort to empower women in STEM fields by providing a platform for visibility and reflection. As the department's second event of its kind, it offers a unique opportunity to hear from women in statistics and data science who will share their journeys, challenges, and achievements in fields that demand greater gender representation.
By spotlighting these experiences, this event encourages reflection and action on the importance of inclusion and diversity in STEM fields. Attendees will gain insight into the realities women face in these fields to understand the importance of women in statistics and data science. This event reflects the department's ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive environment where diverse voices and perspectives are celebrated and empowered.
Title
Women in Statistics + Data Science Registration
Schedule:
- 4:30 PM - Doors open to guests
- Check-in
- Retrieve name tag
- Refreshments
- 5:00 PM - Panel discussion
- 6:30 PM - Dinner
- 8:00 PM - Conclusion
Register before September 26
Panelists Include (subject to change):
Lelys Bravo de Guenni
Lelys Bravo de Guenni is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Statistics of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. Her research interests include the spatial and temporal analysis of environmental data, with a focus on developing risk assessment methods to evaluate the impacts of extreme weather events under potential climate change scenarios. She earned her PhD at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia at the Division of Environmental Sciences in 1992. Before joining UIUC in 2019, she held Visiting Professorships at the University of California in Santa Cruz, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (Ecuador) and Northern Illinois University.
Lauren Clement
Lauren Clement is a Director of Data Analytics at FINRA, a financial industry regulator, and previously worked as a financial regulatory consultant. Across her career, she has built her data analytics skills in Python, Pyspark, SAS, and SQL to develop complex methodologies of scoping customer restitution for bad activity, and patterns of market manipulation or Anti-Money Laundering schemes. She has also worked to maximize efficiency of repeatable analyses through self-service tools and to deliver clear analytical results to stakeholders through high-level summaries. Lauren holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics with a minor in Statistics from the University of Michigan.
Karle Flanagan
Dr. Karle Flanagan is a Teaching Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has taught introductory statistics and data science to over 30,000 students at UIUC over the past ten years. She has been honored to receive multiple teaching awards at both the department and college level including the Illinois Student Government’s Teaching Excellence Award, the Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and the Department of Statistics Teaching Excellence Award. She also serves as the Director of Inclusive Data Science Education for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her research interests include design based research, online education, and the teaching and learning of statistics and data science.
Yue Guo
Yue Guo is a physician-scientist and assistant professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She earned her PhD in health informatics from the University of Washington. Guo's unique background -- an MBBS (equivalent to an MD) from Capital Medical University in China, a master's in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University, and postdoctoral research in Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine -- enables her to bridge the gap between clinical medicine and informatics research.
Guo is focusing on advancing healthcare delivery by integrating artificial intelligence with clinical practice. With an expertise in natural language processing and a thorough understanding of clinical medicine, she focuses on developing AI-driven solutions to make health information more accessible, trustworthy, and actionable. Her work seeks to empower patients, support healthcare providers, and facilitate interdisciplinary research.
Nicole Jackson
Dr. Nicole D. Jackson is a Principal Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories, where she investigates the impact of extreme events on critical infrastructure systems. With a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she leverages advanced computational techniques and heterogeneous data to predict system behavior and enhance resilience. Dr. Jackson is dedicated to advancing infrastructure resilience through innovative research and practical applications that address the complexities posed by extreme events.
Event Hosts
Leah Issa Roco Decatus-Haddad
Leah is a Senior majoring in Statistics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is the President and co-founder of the Women in Statistics RSO, which fosters an inclusive environment for underrepresented communities in statistics and STEM, and engages students through community involvement while supporting academics and career goals. After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate study in biostatistics, aiming for a career in clinical research and trial design. She is passionate about applying statistics to address societal biases and contribute to the communities that support her.
Ganga Sajith
Ganga Sajith is a junior majoring in Statistics with minors in Computer Science and Data Science, and she plans to pursue an MBA in the future. She is the Internal Vice President of the Women in Data Science Urbana-Champaign Chapter, managing chapter operations and overseeing educational and member engagement initiatives. Last summer, she interned at Camping World as a Data Analyst, focusing on workflow automation, revenue forecasting, and predictive modeling. Beyond technical applications, Ganga is passionate about examining the impact of data science through AI ethics, responsible data collection, and advancing technology that is accessible and inclusive.
| Kit Clement | Sarah Kwilecki | Christopher Kinson |
| Lyndsay Shand | Susu Zhang | Lili Zheng |
| Melissa Banks | Fatouma Hewitt | Asraa Ibrahim |
| Aaron Thompson | ||
Additional Department of Statistics DEI Initiatives:
The Blackwell Summer Scholars Program is a paid 8-week summer research experience for underrepresented students in statistics, data science, and mathematics. Scholars work alongside leading faculty, engage in research, and prepare for future graduate programs. See go.illinois.edu/blackwell for more details and application periods.