The ASA student chapter at the University of Illinois Springfield, referred to as ASA–UIS, hosted two events in March to strengthen statistical literacy, professional development, and community engagement among public health students. Led by chapter president Karan Kumar, the chapter organized a campuswide outreach event on March 17, followed by a hands-on SAS software workshop on March 27.
Campus Outreach Event: Introducing ASA to UIS Students
On March 17, chapter officers staffed a table in the UIS Student Union to introduce students to the American Statistical Association, highlight membership benefits, and share opportunities available through ASA–UIS. They engaged with students across programs, explaining the ASA’s role in supporting statistical education, professional networking, and research development.
The event generated strong interest, with 30 students registering for the upcoming SAS workshop. Attendees appreciated learning about the ASA’s journals; student membership discounts; career resources; and the chapter’s plans for workshops, journal clubs, and collaborative research activities. The outreach also boosted visibility for the newly established chapter, which continues to grow within the UIS community.
Hands-On SAS Workshop: Training Public Health Students in Data Analytics
On March 27, assistant professor of public health Yu Sheng Lee, faculty mentor for the chapter, led a hands-on SAS workshop introducing students to SAS programming for epidemiology and biostatistics. Content included working with large public health data sets and applications relevant to public health careers.
With registration capped at 25 seats, the workshop filled quickly. Students learned to import data sets, perform descriptive analyses, write basic SAS code, and interpret outputs commonly used in public health research. Lee demonstrated real-world applications of SAS in surveillance, exposure assessment, and health outcomes research, followed by a Q&A session on career pathways in biostatistics, the importance of coding skills in public health, and opportunities to publish or present research through ASA channels.
Building Community Through Resources and Engagement
ASA–UIS provided attendees with complimentary resources, including refreshments, ASA literature, professional development materials, digital library access information, publication opportunities, a T-shirt, and a hardcover journal with pen. Many participants expressed interest in joining the chapter and attending future events.
Moving Forward
Both March events reflect growing enthusiasm for statistics and data science within the UIS public health community. Under Kumar’s leadership, the chapter has prioritized hands-on learning, professional development, and community building. With continued faculty and ASA support and strong student engagement, ASA–UIS plans to expand its offerings throughout the year, including additional workshops, journal clubs, and collaborative research opportunities.
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