Statistics faculty member honored with Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award
Ephraim Hanks, associate professor of statistics in the Eberly College of Science, is the 2025 recipient of the Graduate School Alumni Society Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award.
The award honors faculty members for exemplary leadership that benefits graduate students and faculty in an existing graduate program at the University.
Nominators said Hanks improved the graduate program during a critical time as former chair of the program. Under his leadership, he improved the quality of the program, enhanced student recruitment, excelled in the professional development of students, increased diversity, and created new and useful resources for students.
Nominators said prospective students were first to see his efforts. He organized a new visitation schedule that improved engagement with faculty and current students. Prospective students met one-on-one with faculty members of similar interests and Hanks arranged for a poster session of graduate student research, so prospective students could see the quality and breadth of research being conducted in the department.
To begin the year, Hanks organized a two-day workshop for all graduate students. Nominators said this led to senior graduate students sharing experiences with their peers, faculty and more junior students. Nominators said this led to increased research engagement and showcases potential career paths for students.
Hanks followed this up the following semester with research matchmaking workshops where faculty members and graduate students met to discuss current and future research projects.
“This is essential in a large department like ours because students typically have few chances to meet all of the professors and learn about their research while they are doing their courses,” a nominator said. “Clearly, these activities led by Hanks promoted both faculty and students by providing the opportunities to interact with each other and help them feel the inclusion in the department as community members.”
Hanks also created a 20-page graduate student handbook. Nominators said this is a useful tool that covers policies, requirements and coursework. It covers milestones such as the comprehensive exam, thesis defense, and offers resources for meeting these milestones.
Another idea Hanks spearheaded, which originated during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a graduate student town hall. Nominators said this is a great opportunity for students to learn more about the program while sharing areas for improvement.
Nominators said Hanks is a welcome voice for all student concerns.
“When I was accepted into the statistics Ph.D. program, Dr. Hanks personally called me on the phone to congratulate me. He asked me what programs I was considering, and he gave me his honest advice. He was the most genuine voice I could have heard at that time,” a nominator said. “His kindness was indicative of the department culture and instrumental in my decision to pursue my Ph.D. at Penn State. He carried this attitude forward as a graduate program chair, providing ample opportunities for prospective graduate students to speak with current Ph.D. students and faculty about their research and experiences.”