There is a consensus amongst the members of the Department of Statistics, that our small department is a welcoming and supportive community. It is also agreed upon by many, that Dr. Virginia (Ginny) Lesser has played a large role in cultivating this environment.
Before she began her academic career at Oregon State University, Dr. Lesser earned her PhD in biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1992, Dr. Lesser joined OSU’s Department of Statistics as an instructor and researcher, focusing on topics such as environmental sampling, ecological monitoring, and applied statistics.
Since 1993, Dr. Lesser has served as the Director of the Survey Research Center at Oregon State University and conducted a high volume of surveys throughout her career. Senior Faculty Research Assistant, Lydia Newton who works closely with Dr. Lesser remarks that together they have, “Conducted hundreds of studies with Oregon state agencies and OSU faculty and staff. I have learned so much under Ginny’s direction and am extremely grateful for the ability to serve this center and department.” After serving many years in the Survey Research Center, Dr. Lesser took on the additional role as Department Head (2011 - 2018). On top of her OSU leadership roles, she still found time to participate in national and international organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for Public Opinion Research, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the International Statistical Institute.
While it can be hard to attest to an individual’s value and contributions with words, like a true statistician, Dr. Lesser's accomplishments can be reflected in numbers. In 2009, Dr. Lesser became the first woman promoted to full professor within the statistics department. Her efforts as the Department Head led to doubling both the number of funded statistics students as well as the number of graduating MS and PhD students, hiring six new faculty members, and growing course enrollments. She helped to develop the College of Science’s first online degree, the MS in data analytics. Additionally, she mentored over 220 graduate students, and published more than 55 journal articles and conference proceedings.
Whether it is pioneering a new graduate program or taking the initiative every year to cook a whole turkey for the annual fall potluck, Dr. Lesser always goes out of her way to enhance the department's achievements and culture. “Ginny has been director of the Survey Research Center for decades, keeping alive our department's reputation in sampling, even when she was the only faculty member with expertise in the field,” shares Professor Lisa Madsen. Other members of the department vouch for the fact that Dr. Lesser, “Consistently advocates for the department,” and they appreciate the, “Countless hours you [Dr. Lesser] have invested in making our department a better place for learning and growth.”
Like many great leaders, Dr. Lesser selflessly uses her experience and standing to uplift her colleagues and has set a precedent for what a great mentor should look like. Dr. Lesser, “Used her many years' service on the College Promotion and Tenure Committee and her leadership of the department Promotion and Tenure Committee to shepherd many people through the promotion process and to provide valuable and much-appreciated mentorship,” says one statistics faculty member. When asked to reflect on his time working with Dr. Lesser, Professor and Co-director of Graduate Studies Dr. Yuan Jiang expresses his,
“Deepest gratitude to Ginny for her care, guidance, and mentorship to everyone in this department. Ginny became the department chair soon after I arrived at OSU as an Assistant Professor and she has been consistently giving me advice and guidance on my academic career since then. Ginny has also been a role model of this department by her collegiality, friendship, and leadership.”
Due to her kind nature, Dr. Lesser has helped curate a supportive department both in terms of professional and personal support. When assistant professor Tate Jacobson first moved to Corvallis, it was Dr. Lesser who was, “The first person to reach out… despite having a packed schedule, she has remained incredibly generous with her time, answering my many questions and sending me [Dr. Jacobson] anything that she thinks might be useful. She has truly made me feel welcome in the department.” Dr. Jiang fondly remembers the, “International food night she organized for the faculty and staff when she was the Department Chair,” and, “Hopes that she can restart it if she has more time after her retirement!”
Entering retirement in Winter 2025, Dr. Lesser hopes to remain active in the department as an emeritus faculty. While it will be quite the adjustment to say goodbye to such an influential instructor and researcher, Dr. Lesser’s contributions during her +30 years in the Department of Statistics have built an excellent foundation for the next wave of students and faculty. As a parting note from Dr. Sam Xu (Statistics alumni) and a sentiment the entire department shares, we are wishing Dr. Lesser, “All the happiness and fulfillment that retirement can bring. Thank you for everything you have done for us.”
