Eileen Clement Boardman (c. 1942 – October 11, 2018) was an American statistician and solar energy scientist whose research included the use of statistical principles in measuring the performance of solar energy systems.[1] She was the first woman to earn a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University,[1][2] and served as president of the Caucus for Women in Statistics.[3]

Life and career

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Boardman was born c. 1942, and grew up in Pennsylvania.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University, and a master's degree from Rutgers University.[4]

She was affiliated with the department of statistics at Colorado State University beginning in the early 1970s,[5] and became an instructor for their introductory statistics courses in the 1970s and 1980s, also teaching in mechanical engineering and business.[2] Returning to graduate study, she completed a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University in 1986, with a dissertation applying statistical quality measures to solar power.[1] She became the first woman at Colorado State to earn this degree.[1][2] After completing her doctorate, she became a statistical consultant,[1][2] naming her firm Boardman Associates.[1]

She survived a bout of breast cancer in 2004, and died on October 11, 2018, of pancreatic cancer.[1]

Recognition and legacy

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Boardman became president of the Caucus for Women in Statistics for 1982.[3]

Colorado State University maintains a student award named for Boardman, the Thomas J. and Eileen C. Boardman Statistical Consulting Award.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Obituary for Eileen Clement Boardman, Goes Funeral Care, 11 October 2018, retrieved 2022-05-02
  2. ^ a b c d "Remembering Dr. Eileen Boardman", Newsletter, Colorado State University Department of Statistics, Fall 2019, retrieved 2022-05-02
  3. ^ a b Presidents 1971–2020 (PDF), Caucus for Women in Statistics, retrieved 2022-05-02
  4. ^ Membership listing (PDF), American Statistical Association, p. 29, retrieved 2022-05-02 – via Duke University
  5. ^ Author affiliation as listed in Thomas, J.; Boardman, Eileen C. (October 1972), "ASA 1971 Publications Survey—Summary of Findings", The American Statistician, 26 (4): 17–22, doi:10.1080/00031305.1972.10477357, JSTOR 2683201
  6. ^ The Thomas J. and Eileen C. Boardman Statistical Consulting Award, Colorado State University Department of Statistics, retrieved 2022-05-02