The Department of Statistics and Data Sciences (SDS) is working to create an annual award for our Ph.D. students focused on teaching excellence in honor of Travis Lilley. Travis Lilley was a Ph.D. Student in Statistics at UT Austin from 2018 until his untimely death in November 2023. He is remembered as a kind and generous colleague and a gifted researcher who also excelled in teaching.
Through impactful research and innovative educational programs, our department strives to embody The University of Texas at Austin's motto: “What starts here changes the world.” Our Ph.D. in Statistics program strives to be an exemplar of graduate training in statistics. Our students are exposed to cutting edge statistical methodology through the modern curriculum and work with faculty members to take a deeper dive into special topics, gain experience in working in interdisciplinary teams and learn research skills through flexible research electives. Graduates of our program are prepared to be leaders in statistics and machine learning in both academia and industry.
Your donation will be used to match a recent generous donation provided by a member of our community. We hope to raise an additional $15,000, which will enable us to create an enduring endowment dedicated to the legacy of Travis Lilley and to provide a sustainable funding source to support an annual award for PhD students.
The campaign is live now (Wednesday, May 7) and runs through Thursday, May 8 (10 p.m. Central). To access our fundraising page, please go directly to this webpage.
Your gift will help us honor the memory of Travis Lilley and recognize SDS graduate students who excel in classroom teaching and contribute significantly to the learning mission of our department and the university.
