Dr. Lesser Elected Fellow

Since 1931, this designation recognizes outstanding contributions to statistical science in research, education, industry, government, or service to the ASA and the broader profession. Each year, the ASA Committee on Fellows may elect as fellows no more than one-third of 1% of the ASA membership. The committee’s rubric includes research, consulting, administration, professional service, teaching and mentoring. Nominees must have made outstanding contributions to statistical science in research, education, industry, government, or service to the ASA and the broader profession. The other ASA Fellows in UTEP’s history were Joan Staniswalis (2001), Javier Rojo (1998), and Eugene Schuster (1991).

Fellows were recognized at the 2025 Joint Statistical Meetings, at the ASA President’s Address and Awards session. As Lesser walked the stage to have a photo taken with his award and ASA President Ji-Hyun Lee, a citation was displayed on the big screen acknowledging his leadership in statistics education research, creating impactful tools for teachers, innovation and creativity in engaging learners, and service to the profession.

Lesser’s prior ASA recognitions include the 2021 Waller Distinguished Teaching Career Award, a 2020 Journal of Statistics Education interview, the Bronze Medal in a peer-reviewed curriculum competition, two 3-year Associate Editor terms for Journal of Statistics Education, and an elected 3-year term as Publications Chair of the ASA’s Section on Statistics and Data Science Education. (Non-ASA recognitions include a 2016 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award, the 2012 International Sun Conference Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award, a 2011 UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, and the MAA Southwestern Section’s 2010 Distinguished Teaching Award.) Lesser states, “Election by my peers as an ASA Fellow is deeply meaningful and humbling validation. I’m grateful for the many ways UTEP has sparked or supported my work, ranging from research on/with emerging bilingual learners to dissertation committee service in our Data Science PhD program.”

Lesser’s work has yielded state grants, NSF grants, and 140 papers, including pioneering statistics education research on language, ethics, intuition, mnemonics, and edutainment. His experience also includes statistics and education consulting, 2 years as a state agency’s sole staff statistician, passing some Society of Actuaries exams, journal editor service, national keynotes, curriculum innovations (for courses in introductory statistics or statistical literacy, and the four statistics chapters in a major math-for-liberal-arts textbook), and outreach (for a syndicated newspaper supplement, an educational program on a PBS station, the National Museum of Mathematics, adult ed classes on the lottery, etc.). More information:

Founded in 1839, the ASA advances research, science, and technology; promotes sound statistical practice; informs public policy; and contributes to a world in which decisions are data-driven.