(Kirk Anderson with his wife Sara Markman at Arches National Park.)
Kirk Anderson has a PhD in Applied Statistics from the Western Michigan University (2002). He is Associate Professor at Grand Valley State University, in Michigan.
Work profile
Constantine: Kirk, how did you get interested in statistics?
Kirk: I entered college (Western Michigan University) as an engineering major, but struggled with chemistry and mechanical drawing. I felt that math was the only subject I had any talent for, but was under the false impression that math majors all go on to teach high school, which I didn’t want to do. I was lamenting my current “undecided” status to my older sister Lisa, who was also attending WMU. She was working on a master’s degree in Applied Statistics, and suggested I take a statistics course. This was new to me, having no exposure to the subject in high school. I enrolled in MATH 364, Statistical Methods, taught by Dr. Michael Stoline (now retired). Dr. Stoline’s enthusiasm for the subject and the life experience he brought into the classroom won me over right away. I declared a statistics major and went on to earn a MS and PhD in Applied Statistics from WMU.
Constantine: So is your sister also working as a statistician today?
Kirk: Lisa is Program Director for Math and Science at Baker College, where she has both teaching and administrative duties.
Constantine: Describe your job. What does your ‘typical’ workday involve?
Kirk: I am now an associate professor of statistics at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). In a typical workday, I teach one or two sessions of a traditional (face-to-face) course in statistics, manage an online or hybrid course, and do committee work. Two of the courses I regularly teach satisfy general education requirements at GVSU and are taken by students in any major. The course I teach in an online or hybrid format is taken by graduate students in the health sciences. Daily tasks include monitoring discussion boards where articles from the medical literature are explored, and grading online homework (this interview is providing a break from grading, actually). On occasion, I update course materials by recording new screencasts to post online. My committee work is mainly as chair of the general education committee at GVSU. Prior to this role, I served as statistical consultant to GVSU faculty in the health sciences, which included collaborations on many interesting research projects.
Constantine: You have been a member of TSHS for a decade. Do you consider TSHS your primary section or is it secondary?
Kirk: I would rank TSHS and the section on Statistical Education equally. Both allow me to connect with peers engaged in work that forms the heart of what I do. In terms of email lists, workshops and sessions at conferences, and general networking, these sections are invaluable to me.
Constantine: What is your reason for participating in TSHS?
Kirk: Teaching statistics to students in the health sciences is one of my niches, so it’s natural to participate in this section. I have the ability to pose a question to all TSHS members, and follow discussions among this group. On more than one occasion, I have been contacted by a TSHS officer, encouraging me to participate in JSM by leading a roundtable discussion, presenting a poster, or chairing a session. TSHS officers have been helpful to me in this regard.
Constantine: You mentioned graduate students in the health sciences. What types of programs?
Kirk: A range of programs and degrees, including Medical Dosimetry (MS), Nursing (MSN and DNP), Occupational Therapy (MS), Physical Therapy (DPT), Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), Public Health (MPH), and Speech-Language Pathology (MS) (see here). On occasion, I have had students from other institutions, mainly ones seeking a PhD in Nursing from Michigan State University.
Constantine: Do you attend JSM or other conferences? If not, why not? If yes, what do you get out of it?
Kirk: Yes, I attend JSM most every year, and am very much looking forward to this year’s meeting in Seattle. I also try to attend USCOTS, and was fortunate to have support to travel to State College, PA, for it this year. The “off-year” virtual conferences for USCOTS (e-COTS) are always worthwhile too. I was able to attend ICOTS last year, and may consider attending other conferences in the future, especially those devoted to teaching online. The JSM program is always a bit overwhelming, so I try to focus on talks that have the potential for immediate impact on what I do. I find that smaller gatherings like USCOTS are more conducive to meeting colleagues you have shared interests with.
Constantine: What are your thoughts about statistics in the future? About statistics education?
Kirk: Statistics is a discipline that has always responded to changes. As data become more plentiful and interest in finding meaning in them increases, statistical methods will evolve to solve these problems. Likewise, as medicine becomes more focused on the genetic details of an individual patient, statisticians will adapt to the new challenges in health research. There is much talk lately about statisticians being left behind in the wake of big data, but there will always be a need for thoughtful analysis. Regarding statistical education, we will likely see more online instruction, including the “flipped” approach. Another interesting development is the use of simulation-based methods when introducing students to concepts of statistical inference.
Constantine: What are some of your interests outside work, statistics, etc.?
Kirk: In no particular order, I enjoy reading, gardening, working on and riding bicycles, hiking in national parks, working on home improvement projects with my wife, enjoying my vinyl record collection, drinking beer, and petting my three cats.
[This interview was conducted through emails, in May 2015. The text is based on Kirk Anderson's own words, with minimal editing by Constantine Daskalakis.]