Website Update

Roy, Rossman Honored for Excellence in Teaching

Cal Poly and the larger world of statistics recognized the accomplishments and contributions of two statistics faculty members this year.

Roy’s Teaching is Distinguished

Soma RoyStatistics professor Soma Roy was awarded the Cal Poly Distinguished Teaching Award for 2015-16 at the university’s Fall Conference celebration. Roy was honored for excellent teaching, instructional innovation, and a commitment to student success, among other criteria.

Roy brings statistics to life through Learn by Doing experiences that inspire students to evaluate ways to collect and analyze data, interpret results, reflect on the answers, and decide what new questions need to be asked. “Dr. Roy doesn’t want you to just memorize for the test and brain dump it afterwards,” a student said. “She challenges you to understand the material for the benefits it will have in your professional career.”

Student learning takes center stage in Roy’s classes. “Her passion for teaching makes her classroom a great atmosphere for learning,” one student said. “Due to her concern for students, she and her students have a mutual respect for each other.” 

Roy’s research is also student-centered and focuses on understanding how students learn statistics and how faculty can better develop course materials. She is the editor of the Journal of Statistics Education.

ASA Recognizes Rossman for “Sustained Excellence”

Alan RossmanMore than twenty years of advanced statistics led officials with the American Statistical Association (ASA) to one logical conclusion: Allan Rossman merited recognition for his contribution to teaching statistics.

Rossman was awarded the association’s Waller Award, which recognizes individuals who have “sustained excellence in teaching and statistics education.” Recipients of the award are presented with a certificate and $1,000.

To receive the Waller Award, nominees must have 20 or more years of statistics teaching experience and must demonstrate excellence in teaching across a variety of statistics courses as well as a host of other criteria.

Rossman, who has also been a fellow of the ASA, is no stranger to winning teaching awards. In 2010, he was awarded the Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics by the Mathematical Association of America.

Related Content

DEI in the Bailey College

Learn More