Purdue Statistics: A journey through time

Abstract

Since its modest inception as the Statistical Laboratory in 1947, the Department of Statistics, Purdue University has grown to one of the largest and most diverse in the country supported by a distinguished list of alumni, outstanding contributions in research, and major advances in statistical education. Its current (2011) size of 62 faculty, 125 graduate students, and almost 400 undergraduate students reflects its commitment to developing statistical sciences research for the present and the future, and to providing high quality education to students, both in statistics and in other disciplines. Historically, the Department of Statistics at Purdue University has been an important center for diverse areas of statistical research. Its strong presence in probability, theory, and education set the stage for its expansion in the mid-1990s. As the field of statistics expanded to include many interdisciplinary areas that require specialization (statistical genetics and bioinformatics, computational finance, machine learning, etc.), Purdue Statistics engaged in an aggressive program of hiring well-prepared faculty with diverse backgrounds who are playing leading roles in the development of the field as it expands its scope. Today Purdue Statistics stands strong as the highest ranked department in the College of Science at Purdue University, and is enjoying its place among the top ranked departments in the United States.