Dr. Anderson Awarded Henry Zarrow Presidential Professorship for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Service

Dr. Michael A. Anderson, Professor of Biostatistics at the Hudson College of Public Health, has been named a Henry Zarrow Presidential Professor, one of the highest distinctions awarded to faculty at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

The Henry Zarrow Presidential Professorship honors faculty who excel across all areas of academic life, including teaching, research and service, while demonstrating a strong commitment to mentoring students and advancing their disciplines. Recipients are recognized as leaders who inspire learners and embody the ideals of a scholar through their professional contributions and outreach.

Dr. Anderson’s career reflects these qualities through his innovative research and dedication to education. As a methodologist, his work focuses on developing advanced statistical approaches for analyzing high-dimensional data. His contributions include creating Bayesian probability models used to classify DNA strands by species, identify infants at risk for severe intra-ventricular hemorrhage and detect differences in gene expression across treatment groups.

A highly collaborative researcher, Dr. Anderson has contributed to 119 peer-reviewed publications over the past decade, supporting research efforts across pediatrics and other biomedical fields. His work continues to shape how complex biological data are analyzed and applied in real-world settings.

In the classroom, Dr. Anderson is equally impactful, teaching courses in probability theory, linear models and applied Bayesian analysis. He is known for mentoring students in both theoretical and applied biostatistics, preparing them for careers in research, healthcare and public health.

His commitment to innovation extends to software development, where he has led efforts to create accessible tools for Bayesian analysis. As principal investigator on a subcontract for an NIH STTR Phase I award, he has helped advance user-friendly statistical software designed to broaden the reach of complex analytical methods.

Together, his achievements in research, teaching and service exemplify the purpose of the Henry Zarrow Presidential Professorship and bring distinction to the Hudson College of Public Health.