NISS Honors Four Leaders for Excellence in Research, Service, and Professional Achievement

Jerome Sacks Award for Outstanding Cross-Disciplinary Research

Noel Cressie

The Jerome Sacks Award for Outstanding Cross-Disciplinary Research was presented to Noel Cressie, Distinguished Professor of Statistics and Director of the Centre for Environmental Informatics at the University of Wollongong. The award recognizes sustained, high-quality research that advances both statistical science and its application across disciplines.

Noel Cressie has made foundational contributions to spatial and spatio-temporal statistics, helping to shape modern approaches used in environmental science, climate research, and the study of global carbon dioxide sources and sinks. The award citation recognized his outstanding cross-disciplinary contributions to science and society and his leadership in advancing scientific understanding of climate change and climate adaptation.

Although unable to attend the ceremony, Cressie shared a message expressing his gratitude for the honor and reflecting on the enduring importance of NISS's mission of fostering cross-disciplinary statistical research.

“It is a singular honor to receive the Jerome Sacks Award from NISS, for the cross-disciplinary research that I do involving the statistical sciences. Jerry Sacks was the inaugural Director of NISS, and I knew him from my Iowa State and Ohio State University days. His vision for NISS, to promote and nurture Statistics in cross-disciplinary research, is just as important now in the age of AI as it was then. I’m sorry I could not be at JSM this year, but y’all come Down Under and see us when you get the chance. Finally, my congratulations to fellow awardees Victor de Oliveira, Tim Hesterberg, and Alyson Wilson.”

NISS Distinguished Alumni Award

Victor De Oliveira

The NISS Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Victor De Oliveira, Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The award honors former NISS postdoctoral researchers and research associates who have gone on to distinguished careers and made significant contributions to their fields.

A NISS postdoctoral researcher in 1997 and 1998, Victor De Oliveira worked on the design and analysis of air pollution monitoring networks. Since then, he has established an internationally recognized career in spatial statistics, Bayesian methods, environmental statistics, geostatistics, spatial prediction, and space-time modeling.

In addition to his research accomplishments, De Oliveira has contributed extensively through graduate mentoring, professional service, and the development of statistical software, including BTG and geoCount.

NISS Distinguished Service Award

Tim Hesterberg

The NISS Distinguished Service Award recognizes extraordinary service that advances the mission and impact of NISS. One of this year's recipients was Tim Hesterberg, Staff Data Scientist at Instacart and Fellow of both the American Statistical Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Hesterberg was recognized for his sustained leadership and dedication to NISS through multiple terms on the Board of Trustees, service as Board Chair, and contributions to numerous committees, including the Executive Committee, Marketing and Communications Committee, Ingram Olkin Forum Committee, and Awards and Nominations Committee. His commitment has helped strengthen NISS and support its continued growth and impact.

NISS Distinguished Service Award

Alyson G. Wilson

The second NISS Distinguished Service Award recipient was Alyson G. Wilson, Vice Provost for Research at William & Mary.

Wilson has provided exceptional leadership to NISS through two terms on the Board of Trustees, service as Board Chair from 2023 to 2024, and contributions to both the Executive Committee and Finance Committee. Her professional career spans statistics, interdisciplinary research, data science, national security, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.

Through her leadership, service, and commitment to advancing research and innovation, Wilson has made lasting contributions to both NISS and the broader statistical community.

Celebrating Leadership and Impact

The 2026 NISS award recipients exemplify the breadth and impact of the statistical sciences. From pioneering research that advances climate science and environmental understanding to dedicated service that strengthens the profession and its institutions, these honorees have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and a commitment to advancing statistics for the benefit of society.