The Department of Biostatistics at the School of Public Health has named Dr. Audrey Hendricks (SPH'12) the recipient of the 2024 Biostatistics Distinguished Alumni Award.

The annual award recognizes an alum from any graduate-level biostatistics program at Boston University whose career embodies SPH’s core purpose to “Think. Teach. Do. For the health of all.” This includes notable contributions to the field, such as publishing peer-reviewed articles, teaching and mentoring the next generation of biostatisticians, and doing work that impacts underserved populations.

Think: Audrey’s research bridges statistics, ‘omics, and biomedicine, focusing on the development and application of statistical and machine learning methods to unravel the complexities of human health. Her leadership in research is evident through her extensive publication record, multiple NIH grants as a principal investigator, and her role in chairing various committees. Her research areas include enhancing the utility and equity of genetic and genomic data, developing food biomarkers, and elucidating the biological mechanisms linking diet and health.

Teach: Audrey has taught numerous courses in applied statistics and machine learning, earning a teaching award in 2020 at the University of Colorado Denver. She is deeply committed to mentoring, guiding trainees at all levels, from undergraduates to post-doctoral fellows.

Do: Audrey has made significant contributions to the field of Biostatistics. She has served as an Associate Editor for Human Genetics and Genomics Advances for several years. She was the program chair for the 2023 Western North American Region (WNAR) of the Biometrics Society meeting and the 2024 STATGEN Conference for the Section on Statistical Genetics and Genomics (SSGG) of the American Statistical Association. Additionally, she is dedicated to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, serving on the JEDI committee of the Biometrics Society-Western North American Region since 2021.

For the health of all: Audrey is committed to mentoring and training the next generation of statisticians, scientists, and critical thinkers, particularly from underserved populations. She co-directs the Pathways in Genomic Research Experiences for Undergraduates (PATH-GREU), a two-year program for Metropolitan State University of Denver undergraduates to receive research training at the University of Colorado Denver and Anschutz Medical Campus, funded by NIH/NHGRI. She is also the co-director and contact PI for Pathways in Genomic Data Science (PATH-GDS), a two-year program for MS statistics and applied mathematics students from underrepresented groups, funded by NIH/NHGRI. Audrey’s visionary leadership in these programs has provided invaluable opportunities for students, significantly contributing to the diversification and enrichment of the biostatistics field.
In summary, Audrey exemplifies the ethos of “Think. Teach. Do. For the health of all,” making substantial and sustained contributions across these domains. Her achievements and unwavering dedication make her an outstanding candidate for BU Biostatistics Distinguished Alumni Award.