NISS Distinguished Service Award

The NISS Distinguished Service Awards were established by the Board of Trustees in 2005 to recognize individuals who have given extraordinary service that significantly advances NISS and its mission. Each year, one or more recipients are chosen by a committee composed of the Vice-Chair of the Board, the chair of the Awards Committee of the Board and the Director. Each receives a memento and has his or her name added to a plaque in the NISS building.

Citations for the 2010 Winners

• MARY ELLEN BOCK: In recognition of multiple forms of service to NISS, including several terms on the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee, her seminal role in the formation of the affiliates program, and her chairing the Awards Committee for the past two years. Her efforts on behalf of SAMSI, most recently as a member of the search committee for the new director, have also manifestly benefitted NISS. Speaking personally, the intangibles—her belief in NISS and her advice and support for me—have helped NISS immeasurably we have progressed over the past ten years.
• JAMES THOMAS: For his long-term service as computational systems manager of both NISS and SAMSI. We would just not have been able to function, let alone thrive as we have over the past ten years, without his devoted attention to our computing and communication needs. There has never been a time—no matter how late or early, how bad the weather, or how vexing the problems—that he was not there for us. That he dealt with sometimes massive challenges with grace, patience and good humor is further indication what a treasure he is to NISS and SAMSI.
• LEE WILKINSON: In recognition of too many forms of service to NISS to list. The most notable things, of course, are his four years as Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees, seven+ years as chair of the Affiliates Committee, and at least six years on the Executive Committee. Equally important, he has been a major force in several affiliates workshops and formation of the affiliates clusters. Speaking personally again, his wise counsel and support have helped me have the confidence to move NISS forward.

Citations for the 2009 Winners

VIJAY NAIR: For service to NISS as chair of the Board of Trustees during nearly all of the building addition project, a leading role in development of the 2004 strategic vision and the 2007 strategic positioning study and focus on more, and more transparent, ways of engaging the statistics community—especially the university affiliates—in NISS' activities.  

JOHN ROLPH: For service to NISS as a long-term member of the Board of Trustees and leadership within the Board, which has included chairing the Science Committee and, especially, chairing the Finance Committee throughout the building addition projec, as well as wise counsel that has helped NISS remain sound financially at the same time as we have thrived scientifically.

Citations for the 2008 Winners

JAMES BERGER: for your innumerable, long-term contributions to NISS, which ranging from leading NISS projects on computer model evaluation to your unending efforts to ensure that the NISS/SAMSI relationship works to the benefit of both institutes.

KATHERINE KANTNER: recognizing contributions to NISS that are too numerous to list, which include the web site, dealing with affiliates and especially the effective, graceful way in which you handled what seemed like an endless series of events in the spring of 2008.

Citations for the 2007 Winners

STEPHEN E. FIENBERG: for long-term support of NISS, including long-time membership on the Board of Trustees, service on major board committees (and chairing the 2000 director search committee), leadership of digital government research, and persistent willingness to speak positively about NISS. And throughout, you have engendered civility and humor within NISS.

JON R. KETTENRING: for long-term contributions to NISS, including your willingness to support NISS visibly in many contexts (among them, your 1997 ASA presidential address), your seminal role in creation of the affiliates program, your extraordinary stint as chair of the Board of Trustees, and your ceaselessly positive outlook about the future of NISS. Your help has been invaluable.

Citations for the 2006 Winners

NANCY FLOURNOY: for many roles in the formation of NISS, long-term service on the Board of Trustees, and continuing strong support of the NISS/SAMSI affiliates programs.

INGRAM OLKIN: for multiple roles in articulating the importance of cross-disciplinary research involving the statistical sciences, catalyzing the formation of NISS, participating in NISS projects and stimulating a continuing NISS presence in the social sciences.

JEROME SACKS: for extraordinary service as founding director of NISS, setting the scientific standards and tone for NISS, and bringing the NISS building to reality.

DANIEL SOLOMON: for long-term devotion in NISS in ways that are too numerous to list, but include preparation of the proposal to locate NISS in Research Triangle Park, serving as vice-chair of the NISS Board of Trustees and chair of the SAMSI Governing Board, being a repository of NISS history, and throughout having challenged NISS to succeed.

Citations for the 2005 Winners:

ALBERT H. BOWKER: Your role in creation of an institute dedicated to cross-disciplinary research involving the statistical sciences, including chairing the site selection committee, and service as initial chair of the Board of Trustees of NISS.

DANIEL G. HORVITZ: Your roles in helping produce the North Carolina proposal for NISS, in creating NISS as a functioning organization, as the first treasurer of NISS and on the 1997 NISS building committee, as well as your long-term support of NISS leadership.

JANET NORWOOD: Your multiple roles in the early stages of NISS, especially service on the site selection committee and as second chair of the Board of Trustees, and your long-term membership on the Board of Trustees.

MARTHA WILLIAMSON: Your extraordinary devotion to NISS as administrative assistant since 1992, as well as your unflagging optimism about the future of NISS.