MS: Applied Statistics Alumni Messages

The MS in Applied Statistics program at NMSU produces graduates proficient in the practice of statistics and prepared to enter directly into positions in government or industry. Recent placements include UC Davis Health, the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, the University of Arizona Statistics Consulting Lab, Honeywell, Sandia National Laboratories, and The Research and Analysis Center (TRAC)-White Sands Missile Range. Below, our alumni talk about their successful careers in which they have used their graduate degrees for social good.

Find out about our Applied Statistics Graduate Current Use Scholarship.

Rahila Naseer (2021)

My choice of NMSU was influenced not only by the program's strong emphasis on the practical
application of statistics, but also by the university's commitment to non-discrimination and equal
opportunity. This inclusive approach fostered a rich, diverse learning environment that prepared me for
the complexities of today's global workplace.
Currently, I serve as a Data Analyst at the New Mexico Public Education Department, focusing on the
Assessment, Research, Evaluation & Accountability Division. In this capacity, I am deeply involved in
ensuring our education system aligns with Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) federal accountability
requirement. My work encompasses data cleaning, validation, and analytical preparation. The strong
statistical training and hands-on experience I received at NMSU have been instrumental in my success in
this role, equipping me with the advanced analytical skills necessary to tackle complex data challenges in
the education sector.
Reflecting on my time at NMSU, the unparalleled guidance and mentorship from the faculty stand out as
a cornerstone of my professional growth. The faculty's commitment to excellence and their personal
investment in each student's success provided a nurturing environment that encouraged exploration
and innovation. Their expertise in statistical theory and application, combined with their willingness to
share their vast knowledge, laid a solid foundation for my analytical skills. This mentorship extended
beyond academic instruction, offering insights into career development and the practical application of
statistics in real-world scenarios. It is this comprehensive education and support from NMSU's faculty
that have been pivotal in my career achievements and ongoing success in the field of data analysis.
Thank you NMSU, a community that has given me so much.

Cora (Junxin) Huang (2018)

I currently hold the position of Senior Solution Consultant at Medidata Solutions, which is a technology
company that combines the wealth of data, AI powered insights, and patient-centric clinical trial
solutions required to bring tomorrow's breakthrough therapies. We utilize biopharmaceutical data
knowledge to deliver clients timely and accurate key performance indicators, data and insights used by
pharmaceutical executives to drive commercial strategy and guide tactical activities.
My initial introduction to NMSU was as a graduate student enrolled in the Plant and Environmental
Science Program. It was during this time that my interest in statistics began to develop, spurred by
coursework aimed at equipping me with the necessary skills to analyze data derived from research
experiments.
Afterward, I made the decision to pursue a master's degree in applied statistics. The courses within the
program are designed to furnish students with a robust quantitative foundation. During this time, I
engaged in a research project under the guidance of my advisor, Dr. Gard, which focused on
investigating the prevalence of peripartum depression and associated demographic characteristics
among participants of the Healthy Start program in a New Mexico county bordering the U.S.-Mexico
border.
Participation in this research project afforded me invaluable exposure to real-world use cases and
provided hands-on experience in utilizing data to address practical questions. Through this project, I
honed skills in data cleaning and conducting statistical analyses. It is the education and experience
gained from the applied statistics master's program that have equipped me with the statistical
knowledge and data analytics proficiency necessary for my current role, where I work extensively with
data.

Darren James (2014)

Darren James (M.S. Applied Statistics, May 2014) never intended to be a statistician. As an undergrad at Cornell University (B.S. Natural Resources and Biology, May 2003) he became involved in ecological research, eventually working as a field and lab technician in wetland ecology and biogeochemistry.

In 2004 he moved to Las Cruces to work in rangeland management and restoration research for USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, first through NMSU and later as a federal employee.

At the Jornada, Darren participated in a wide variety of research projects as a Biological Science Technician. His primary role was in data collection but he was fortunate enough to assist with designing experiments and analyzing data. After several years he decided that, even though it didn’t seem like quite the right fit, taking his career to the next level meant becoming a research scientist. At NMSU he pursued graduate degrees in Wildlife Science and Range Science before finding his niche in the Applied Statistics department. In 2015 he accepted a position as Statistician at the Jornada.

What Darren enjoys most about being a statistician are the diverse applications it offers and the wide variety of people with whom he works; as John Tukey said, “you get to play in everyone’s backyard.” Even though transitioning to a desk job has proven difficult, Darren enjoys the intellectual and technical challenges the job poses. His current interests are Generalized Linear Mixed Models and Reproducibility Research, but those are sure to change as the practice of statistics continues to grow and evolve.

Songie (Tim) Goa (2013)

I am working for Toyota Financial Services (TFS) as a Senior Financial Analyst-Insurance Analytics. My duties include analyzing key business drivers, revenues, and expenses; developing and implementing financial forecasting models and identifying risks and opportunities of our insurance product; monitoring the performance of each product; applying statistical and risk analysis techniques to structure and model complex analytical problems; and generating various ad hoc analyses and reports. Prior to joining TFS, I worked at Check Into Cash as a risk analyst.

I received solid statistical knowledge and problem solving abilities from my graduate program. Applied Statistics at NMSU focuses on the application of quantitative methods to real-world problems. The theoretical courses gave me the ability to better understand new statistical methods in academic papers. SAS is a very important software for my work. I learned and practiced strong programming skills in SAS, R and SQL courses in NMSU. In summary, the Applied Statistics program at NMSU gave me the foundation for my career success.

Dr. Steve Campbell (1998)

I serve as the Conservation Biologist for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve protects one of the best remaining examples of an inland pitch pine-scrub oak barrens, which is a globally-rare ecosystem that supports many of NY’s Species of Greatest Conservation need as well as the federally-endangered Karner blue butterfly.

The Commission is a state government organization that was established to manage the Preserve for its protection and public use.

As the Conservation Biologist for the Commission, I am primarily responsible for designing ecological research and monitoring studies in the Preserve, managing and analyzing the data, and publishing the results as reports and peer-reviewed scientific papers.

I also help out with some of our fieldwork (e.g., bird banding, avian point counts, prescribed fire) and occasionally conduct public

Chris Knorr (1997)

Chris is currently Vice President, Data Strategy & Governance for the Global Commercial Payments division of American Express. She leads a large, diverse team of data scientists and big-data technologists in the creation of information driven solutions that solve real world problems for corporations across the globe. She is a mentor in the Executive Women’s Interest Network, an executive champion of the company’s virtual workforce network, BlueEN, and an active member in several data governance and data science associations.

"Every day the world becomes more aware of the power of data — whether for good or bad intents. It is the new currency. My interest and passion for deriving positive benefit from information and data was certainly fueled by my time at NMSU.

As a student in the Experimental Statistics program, I was able to marry my love of math with my hobby of solving puzzles. The classroom focus on the practical aspects of statistics coupled with hands on application through internships helped to set me up for career success. The problem-solving skills, real world experience and solid education in statistics and data mining proved to be a valuable blend.

Upon graduating from the program with a Master of Science, I had imagined a career in clinic studies and experiments. What I quickly found was an emerging niche for data analysis, tightly linked to the fast growing world of technology, across a wide variety of industry sectors. Over my last 14 years with American Express, I have leveraged my NMSU education every day — whether building predictive forecasts to help customers optimize spending or proposing new organizational strategies. The advice I give my team on success is to love what you do and take every opportunity to go beyond what anyone would have expected possible".

Scroll to Top

MS: Applied Statistics Alumni Messages

College of Business

Connect With Us