Joni Ricks-Oddie

Joni Ricks-Oddie, Ph.D. (UCLA, 2012), is a researcher and administrator at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She serves as Director of the UCI Center for Statistical Consulting and Director of the Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design (BERD) Unit within UCI’s Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS). Her work focuses on statistical consulting, biostatistics, and advancing health equity through data-driven approaches. She also holds a leadership role as a Long Beach City Council Member (District 9), leveraging her expertise in data analysis to address municipal challenges like homelessness and racial inequities.

Educated in epidemiology at UCLA, Dr. Ricks-Oddie emphasizes translating research into actionable policies. She advocates for inclusive civic spaces and has pioneered initiatives such as UCI’s Black Thriving Initiative Strategic Plan to enhance diversity in clinical translational sciences. Her efforts extend to mentoring underrepresented minority (URM) students in statistics and data science through partnerships with UCI’s Center for Educational Partnerships.

In her policy work, she emphasizes equity-focused data analysis, aiming to bridge gaps between research and community needs. Her dual roles in academia and local governance reflect a commitment to applying scientific rigor to societal challenges while fostering inclusive environments for marginalized communities.