Kelly Findley

Kelly Findley is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She specializes in statistics and data science education, emphasizing scalable, concept-driven curricula with real-world applications. Her work includes redesigning the introductory biostatistics course for medical career aspirants and developing pedagogical tools for large-class environments.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction: Math Education from Florida State University
• M.S. in Statistics from Florida State University

Research Interests: Focuses on qualitative studies of student perspectives in statistics, disciplinary appropriation, and TA professional development. Recent projects explore student beliefs about statistics, causal reasoning in biostatistics, and strategies for fostering student belonging through pedagogical frameworks.

TA Training & Service:

• Co-developed a first-year PhD training program emphasizing pedagogy, technology, and cohort unity
• Founded the TA Training committee to support TAs’ professional growth and community-building
• Launched the PhD Mentors program to foster leadership and innovation among new graduate students

Labs & Collaborations:

• Collaborates with Nicola Justice, Florian Berens, and Chris Kinson on longitudinal studies of student statistical perspectives
• Explores disciplinary identity formation through qualitative analyses of student narratives