Born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, Dionne Price enjoyed applied mathematics in school so much that her undergraduate path became clear when she was awarded a scholarship in the Dozoretz National Institute for Minorities in Applied Sciences at Norfolk State University. Before graduating, she spent a summer working in a biostatistics unit of the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, which sparked her love of biostatistics and led her to complete graduate studies at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Emory University. She then took a job with the US Food and Drug Administration. Most recently, she served at the FDA as Deputy Director of the Office of Biostatistics in the Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

“My greatest accomplishment is the daily knowledge that my statistical leadership and expertise positively contribute to ensuring the efficacy and safety of drugs and therapeutic biologics for the public,” said Dionne. “As a statistician, I make a difference in the lives of others. This is an honor and a joy!”

In January 2023, Dionne began her tenure as ASA president by highlighting the need to explore alternative avenues for reaching and exposing younger generations to statistics. She pushed for the statistical community to be active in science policy, to advocate for sound statistical theory, and to continue to raise awareness about the impact of their work. To drive discovery and inform decisions, she inspired members to become leaders in society at large.

“Although much time has passed since I was an undergraduate, I believe there is still more work to be done in terms of increasing the awareness of statistics as a profession,” said Dionne. Additionally, Dionne continued the ASA’s efforts aimed at justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion for all. She said, “It is important that we increase our collective awareness and understanding of the experiences of quantitative thinkers from various backgrounds.” She believed these efforts would strengthen our community.

Dionne was an active member of the International Biometric Society and FDA Statistical Association. She served as chair of the ASA Biopharmaceutical Section, which boasts more than 2,000 members who share an interest in the application of statistics to the development and use of therapeutic drugs and devices in humans and animals. She was named an ASA Fellow in 2018.

“Dionne believed in the ASA mission, and she inspired us to view every decision as an opportunity to advance our mission,” said ASA Associate Executive Director Donna LaLonde.