Shape the future of data science and risk analysis at a pivotal moment of transformation.
The University of Iowa seeks a visionary leader to serve as Chair of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science—an established, highly regarded program entering a generational transition in a rapidly changing scientific and educational environment. With a strong foundation of alumni engagement, donor support, and institutional investment, this role offers a rare opportunity to guide faculty renewal, elevate research and teaching, and position the department for decades of impact.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Lead a program with a long, respected history and national reputation
- Build on a strong and engaged alumni network and donor base
- Hold an endowed chair position with dedicated support for leadership and innovation
- Recruit and shape the next generation of faculty during a once-in-a-generation transition
- Unlock significant untapped potential with strong backing from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Advance strategic growth in high-demand fields across statistics, data science, and actuarial science
- Join at the rank of full professor with the platform to make lasting institutional impact
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Historic endowed chair
The position carries the title of Robert V. Hogg Endowed Chair, honoring Robert (“Bob”) Hogg, a native of Hannibal, Missouri. Hogg came to the University of Iowa in 1947 to study actuarial science and remained to earn his PhD in statistics in 1950 under Allen Craig. He then joined the mathematics faculty, beginning a distinguished 51-year career at Iowa.
Hogg played a central role in shaping the department, serving as the founding chair when the Department of Statistics was established in 1965 and leading it for 19 years. In addition to his departmental leadership, he directed the Quality Management and Productivity Program and held the Hanson Chair of Manufacturing Productivity. He became Professor Emeritus in 2001.
A nationally recognized leader in the field, Hogg was a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics and the American Statistical Association, as well as an elected member of the International Statistical Institute. He served as President of the American Statistical Association in 1988 and later chaired two of its winter conferences.
Robert V. Hogg, 1956
About the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science
The University of Iowa’s Department of Statistics is one of the oldest and most distinguished statistics departments in the United States, with a history that reflects both foundational contributions to the discipline and a sustained commitment to innovation. Established as a standalone department in the mid-20th century, it has played a pioneering role in advancing statistical theory and practice, while maintaining strong interdisciplinary ties across the university.
Today, the department is a vibrant academic community dedicated to high-quality teaching and meaningful collaboration. Faculty are internationally recognized scholars who work closely with students and partners across diverse fields including medicine, public health, business, and the social sciences. With a strong emphasis on mentorship, methodology, and real-world application, the department offers an environment where innovation thrives and future leaders in statistics are developed. This combination of rich history, scholarly distinction, and forward-looking vision makes it an exceptional opportunity for a new department chair to shape the next chapter of its growth and influence.
Research activities
The department has a variety of expertise in multiple research areas across statistics and actuarial science, including:
- Actuarial science
- Bayesian statistics
- Bioinformatics
- Biostatistics
- Categorical data analysis
- Causal inference
- Computational statistics
- Data science
- Experimental design
- Financial mathematics
- High-dimensional statistics
- Linear models
- Longitudinal data analysis
- Markov chain Monte Carlo
- Mathematical statistics
- Model selection
- Multivariate analysis
- Nonparametric statistics
- Probability
- Quality improvement
- Quantitative risk management
- Semiparametric models
- Spatial and environmental statistics
- Sports statistics
- Statistical consulting
- Statistical ecology
- Stochastic processes
- Time series analysis
Position qualifications
The successful candidate will be an accomplished, innovative, and visionary individual with a strong record of research leadership and a passion for teaching and mentoring who is committed to the mission and vision of the department. Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent degree and possess credentials commensurate with the rank of tenured full professor in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, as well as a strong track record of publication and extramural funding in their area of study.
Contact
To indicate your interest in the position or learn more, please reach out to our interim DEO.
