Deborah Nolan

Deborah Nolan is a Professor of Statistics and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society at UC Berkeley. She holds the Zaffaroni Family Chair in Undergraduate Education. Nolan's work focuses on advancing statistics and data science education, reflected in her four authored books emphasizing hands-on problem-solving and case studies. She is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and the Institute of Mathematical Statistics. Previously, she chaired the Statistics Department and served as Associate Dean for Math and Physical Sciences for nine years. Her career includes pioneering efforts in STEM education equity, such as co-founding the IMS New Researchers Meeting and leading programs like the Summer Math Institute and CalTeach.

Education: Ph.D. in Statistics from Yale University; undergraduate studies at Vassar College during its transition to co-educational enrollment.

Research Interests: Nolan’s research emphasizes pedagogical innovation in statistics and data science, curriculum development, and the integration of computational tools. Her work bridges theory and practice, with a focus on authentic data analysis and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Articles Overview: Recent publications explore pedagogical strategies in data science education, curriculum guidelines, and the use of modern technologies like XML and R for data analysis. Her work highlights the intersection of statistical theory and practical applications, emphasizing reproducible research and dynamic visualization.

Awards: Recognized for teaching excellence with the Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award and honored for contributions to statistical education through her fellowships and leadership roles.

Advising & Grants: Nolan has advised numerous educational initiatives, including the development of the Data Science major at UC Berkeley and the Berkeley Unboxing Data Science program. Her administrative roles have focused on undergraduate academic success and institutional equity.

Labs/Teams: Active in the UC Berkeley Statistics Department and the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society, Nolan collaborates across disciplines to advance educational and research goals.