Highlander Highlights shares with readers some of the extraordinary accomplishments happening on and off campus through the tireless work and curiosity of our students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Professor edits statistics encyclopedia, earns Nobel Peace Prize nomination
“Daunting” and “deeply rewarding” is how Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Miodrag Lovric describes his recent task serving as editor of the International Encyclopedia of Statistical Science, Second Edition.
The new edition spans four volumes containing 3,150 pages. More than 700 mathematicians and scholars from 110 countries contributed to the encyclopedia.
“Coordinating such a massive scholarly effort required constant communication across time zones, careful quality control and attention to detail to maintain consistency and accuracy across hundreds of entries,” Lovric said.
In addition to his editorial work, Lovric authored 17 new papers and co-authored 13 new papers. “Balancing these roles was demanding but deeply fulfilling,” he said.
Lovric noted that he is “particularly proud” that three Radford students co-authored a chapter with him. Rose Chamberlain, Matthew Ross and Calvin Long helped research and write the chapter “The P-Value Chronicles: Unmasking Fourteen Widespread Misconceptions.”
“Their participation showcases Radford’s strong commitment to undergraduate research,” Lovric said, “and that our students can contribute meaningfully to a publication of international stature.”
The International Encyclopedia of Statistical Science, Second Edition, opens with four distinguished forewords. The first was written by professor and dean of Radford’s Artis College of Science and Technology, Steven Bachrach, “whose support was vital throughout the project.” Lovric noted. Other forwards were written by Neil Sigmon, professor and chair of Radford’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Bradley Efron of Stanford University, “one of the most influential statisticians of our time,” Lovric said – and University of Chicago professor James Heckman, a Nobel Prize laureate in economics.
“I am immensely grateful to each of them for their contributions,” Lovric said.
The encyclopedia project has earned global recognition beyond the scholarly community. Lovric and his editorial team have been nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize by qualified nominators from Cambodia and Spain, with additional nominations anticipated.
Lovric’s work on the encyclopedia establishes Radford University as the publication’s academic home. “It underscores,” he said, “that the editorial leadership – including me – and much of the scholarly coordination originated right here in Radford’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics.”
This, Lovric noted, elevates Radford’s profile within the global academic community, demonstrates its capacity to host and lead a large-scale scholarly initiative and highlights the university’s commitment to international collaboration and excellence in statistics.
“This project reflects positively on Radford University’s scholarly environment,” he said, “and reinforces our identity as a hub for impactful statistical research and education.”
Lovric also served as editor of the encyclopedia’s first edition in 2011, which also led to his nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize by qualified nominators from seven countries: Serbia, Lovric’s home country; the United States; Spain; Brazil; Botswana; Bosnia; and India.
Amstat News, a magazine by the American Statistical Association, described the encyclopedia as “the largest international scientific project ever conducted in history.”
“The second edition is even larger,” Lovric said, “with broader coverage and deeper global representation.”
Summer We Are Radford award winners
The We Are Radford employee recognition program is a monthly honor recognizing an individual whose daily interactions with students and colleagues represent the best of the Radford University experience.
July winner: Elliott Ward, Housekeeping: “Elliott works tirelessly to assure Martin Hall, which contains some of campus's more public-facing spaces, is flawlessly maintained and spotlessly clean,” his nominator wrote. “He maintains a highly disciplined routine to accomplish myriad tasks. Despite his busy schedule, he always shares a greeting that reflects his kindness and empathy. He is also responsible for the outflow of recyclables from the spaces he cares for. Elliott embodies the kind of individual who makes Radford a welcoming and enjoyable place to study and work.”
August winner: Jonathan Mayer, Printing Services: “Jonathan is my go-to person for all things printing,” his nominator wrote. “He has excellent customer service skills and strives for excellence in his department. Jonathan ensures that customer needs are met and exceeds expectations. He goes above and beyond to ensure that the customer is satisfied.”
Employees who have served at least one year at Radford are eligible to be recognized for upholding the university’s core values.
D.N.P. grad chosen as fellow of American Academy of Nursing
Ellen Marie Harvey, D.N.P. ’12, has been named a 2025 fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
FAAN serves the public by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Academy fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions in improving health locally and globally. They represent nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice and academia.
“This designation is truly the honor of my professional career,” said Harvey, a clinical nurse specialist for Carilion Clinic. “I thank the American Academy of Nursing for this prestigious designation. The incredible nursing faculty, nursing colleagues and interprofessional teams I have worked with, and of course the patients and families I have been honored to care for, each have blessed my professional journey beyond measure, supporting a deep joy in nursing and passion to serve.”
Harvey is looking forward to attending the FAAN induction ceremony in October in Washington, D.C., she said – “My sponsors, mentors and family from across the country will be in attendance.”