James Leeper, PhD

Jim Leeper was born in Waterloo, Iowa in 1945. He earned his B.S. degree in Physics and Astronomy in 1967 at the University of Iowa (UI). Following four years in the Air Force, he obtained a M.S. (1974) and Ph.D. (1977) in Biostatistics at UI in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health. Since 1977 he has been with The University of Alabama (UA) School of Medicine – Tuscaloosa Campus, Department of Community and Rural Medicine and the Applied Statistics Program at UA. He was Department Chair from 1987 – 2001 and is currently Rural Programs Director of Education and Evaluation. Two sabbatical leaves were spent in Australia and China. He has co-authored 88 journal articles, four book chapters and close to 100 conference presentations. He has served on 175 dissertation committees and 25 thesis committees. Honors include APHA Statistics Section Award (1994), National Alumni Association of The University of Alabama Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award (1995), College of Public Health (UI) Outstanding Alumni Award (2003) and elected as a member of Alpha Phi Chapter of the Delta Omega Society (Honorary Public Health Society) (UI) (2008). In APHA he served on the Program Development Board (now Science Board) (1993-97, chair 1994-97 ), Joint Policy Committee (1994-97, co-chair), Science Board (1997-2000), Education Board (1999-2003), Governing Council (2000-2001), Statistics Section counselor (2005-2007), Statistics Section Chair (2008-2009) and Intersectional Council Steering Committee (2010-2013). He is also a member of the American Statistical Association, the National Rural Health Association and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. He is the proud father of two daughters in health-related careers (genetics and medicine) and the proud husband of a retired biostatistician.