Welcome

I am an assistant research professor with the Department of Statistics at Pennsylvania State University's Eberly College of Science. My research passion lies within the realm of Statistics Education. This field is relatively young and is full of opportunities for understanding how individuals think about concepts in Statistics. My dissertation work focused on students' understanding of stochastic processes as they develop a conception of a stochastic variable's distribution.

Prior to joining Penn State, I worked at the University of Northern Colorado as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics and as an Instructor for Arizona State University.


What is Statistics Education?

Statistics Education is the research field that is concerned with investigating, describing, and modeling how individuals think about and learn ideas in statistics. Our research products often inform the development of lessons, curriculum materials such as texts, videos, and applets, as well as contributing the growing knowledge base for how educators can support their students in developing particular meanings.

Statistics Education is not like Environmental Statistics, Biostatistics, Astrostatistics, Statistical Physics, or Geostatistics (to name a few). These fields are primarily concerned with the development and application of statistical methods within their respective disciplines. The education analog to these is Educational Statistics. While Statistics Education researchers can certainly use statistical methods, many of the most powerful studies involving using qualitative methods. This is one of the key ways that sets Statistics Education apart from these others fields.

Statistics Education is a relatively young field; I often point to the 2008 article "Introducing the Emerging Discipline of Statistics Education" by Ben-Zvi and Garfield as a key moment. While there had been significant work towards building the field prior to their article (some going back to the 1940s), Ben-Zvi and Garfield brought the field to light. Statistics Education grew out of two places: a group of statisticians trying to improve the teaching of statistics and mathematics education researchers who were interested in students' statistical thinking. Since Ben-Zvi and Garfield's article, there are increasing numbers of statisticians getting involved in Statistics Education research projects as well as calls to get more Science Education and Computer Science Education involved. In a way, Statistics Education is a multidisciplinary field.


Curriculum Vitae

Current Employment: Pennsylvania State University


Education:
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 		Ph.D. in Mathematics Education
Conferred May 2019
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO 		M.S.Ed. in Mathematics Education
Conferred April 2011
Doane University (formerly Doane College)
Crete, NE 		Bachelor of Science
Conferred May 2009

Curriculum Vitae

Teaching Philosophy

Statement of Education and Career Goals