Katherine K. Wallman Award for Transformative Impact on Federal, State, or Local Statistics

About the Award

Katherine K. Wallman dedicated her career to public service, particularly in the US federal statistical system, which culminated in her 25-year service as chief statistician of the United States. One of her unique contributions was her ability to bring together people among agencies and their stakeholders—including state governments, users, advocacy organizations, and academics—and unite them behind a common goal.

This award was created to recognize the critical importance of seeking ways to transform the utility of official statistics to the users of those statistics. The award will recognize individuals or small groups for their significant contributions that advance the relevance, credibility, utility, and objectivity of official statistics at the federal, state, or local level in a manner that provides for solutions to pressing public policy problems and promotes the public’s trust.

The award includes a plaque and $2,500 honorarium. It will be announced annually at the Joint Statistical Meetings, and the awardee will present a virtual lecture at a date decided upon by the committee and the awardee in coordination with the ASA.

Selection Criteria

The primary requirement is for the individual or set of individuals to have directly fostered, enabled, or produced transformative outputs that significantly contribute to the solution of public policy problems through the advancement of relevant, credible, useful, objective, and trustworthy official statistics. The award may be given to people regardless of profession, sector of employment (federal, state, or local government; academia; private sector), or stage of career. If the award is given to more than one person, an honorarium amount will be divided among award recipients such that at least $2,500 is distributed to the awardees overall and each awardee receives a minimum of $500.

Award Recipient Responsibilities

The award recipient is responsible for providing a current photograph and general personal information the year the award is presented. The American Statistical Association uses this information to publicize the award and prepare the prize.

Nominations

Nominations are due by March 1 and require the following:

  • Nominating letter, not to exceed three pages
  • One to three letters of support, not to exceed two pages each
  • A CV for each nominee

Nomination letters should describe the following in sufficient detail:

  • The nature, context, and significance of the transformative work
  • The roles of the nominee(s) and others involved in collaboration to achieve the transformative work and the nature of the collaborative work
  • The impact on the utility of official statistics at the federal, state, or local level or linked statistics for problem solving and other important uses of US official statistics

Questions

Please contact Emily Fekete.