Westat

Congratulations to Sunitha Mathew, MS, Westat Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, on her appointment to the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. Her contributions will help in advancing the Chamber’s mission to strengthen the local economy and the region’s business and civic communities.

Sunitha Mathew Joins Board of Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce - Westat Sunitha Mathew, MS, Westat Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC).

Brian Sokol, MS, Westat’s Vice President for Data Architecture and Data Engineering, joined the inaugural Brick Lounge podcast to discuss WesLytics, Westat’s data intelligence platform powered by Databricks. In the conversation, he explores how WesLytics helps deliver scalable, secure, and innovative data solutions while strengthening the use of AI in research.

Brian Sokol Spotlights WesLytics™ on Inaugural Brick Lounge Podcast Episode - Westat Brian Sokol, MS, Westat’s Vice President for Data Architecture and Data Engineering, was the inaugural guest on the new Brick Lounge podcast (YouTube), where he discussed WesLytics.

The Washington Statistical Society’s Annual Award Ceremony and Reception will take place on June 17 at Westat’s Bethesda headquarters. The event will bring together members of the statistical community for an evening of recognition, networking, and conversations about emerging ideas shaping the field's future. We look forward to welcoming colleagues and friends from across the profession.

Washington Statistical Society to Host Annual Award Ceremony and Reception at Westat - Westat The Washington Statistical Society (WSS) will hold its Annual Award Ceremony and Reception on Wednesday, June 17, from 4–7 p.m. at Westat’s Bethesda headquarters.

Members of Westat’s leadership team, including President and CEO Scott Royal, PhD, attended the Rockville Chamber of Commerce’s Public Safety Awards last week. Congratulations to all of the award winners, and thank you for your commitment to our community!

Westat’s AI governance framework provides a responsible approach to evaluating, deploying, and monitoring AI technologies. Guided by our AI Hub and GenAI policy, Gizem Korkmaz, PhD, VP, Data Science and AI, and Brian Sokol, MS, VP, Data Architecture and Data Engineering, discuss how we help ensure innovation is paired with strong oversight, data protection, and high-quality results for clients.

Westat’s AI Governance Framework Balances Innovation, Quality, and Trust - Westat Westat developed a comprehensive AI governance framework designed to support the responsible, ethical, and secure use of AI technologies across its organization.

Westat has been named one of Forbes 2026 Best Employers for Company Culture for the second consecutive year. This recognition reflects the workplace our employees create every day, one built on purpose, collaboration, and empowerment.

Forbes America's Best Employers For Company Culture 2026 Forbes' list of employers with top company culture showcases the importance of workplace culture to employee and company success.

We’re proud to congratulate Lloyd Hicks, Jr., MS, who will receive the 2026 Washington Statistical Society President’s Award for Distinguished Service. The honor recognizes his outstanding contributions to survey sampling and his longstanding service to the statistical community. Congratulations, Lloyd!

Lloyd Hicks to Receive 2026 WSS President’s Award - Westat Lloyd Hicks, Jr., MS, a Westat Principal Statistical Associate for Statistics and Data Science, has been selected to receive the 2026 Washington Statistical Society (WSS) President’s Award for Distinguished Service.

Join us in welcoming Justin Baer, PhD, to Westat as Vice President and Practice Director for Education and Social Policy. With more than 20 years of experience leading research, evaluation, and data initiatives across federal agencies, Justin brings deep expertise in strategy, client engagement, and program delivery. Welcome to the team, Justin!

Justin Baer Joins Westat as Vice President and Practice Director, Education and Social Policy - Westat Justin Baer, PhD, has joined Westat as Vice President and Practice Director for Education and Social Policy.

Westat’s Minsun Riddles, PhD, will present “AI-Driven Synthetic Data Generation for Complex Data” at the Statistical Society of Canada annual meeting on June 1 at McMaster University. The session explores how AI can support privacy-protected data sharing while preserving data utility.

Minsun Riddles to Discuss AI-Driven Synthetic Data Generation - Westat Minsun Riddles, PhD, a Westat Principal Statistical Associate for Statistics and Data Science, will be presenting at the Statistical Society of Canada (SSC) annual meeting on June 1, 2026.

Our staff are heading to Seattle for the 2026 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting (ARM). Learn more about the conference and check out their presentations:

How High-Quality Research Shapes Smarter Healthcare Decisions: Westat at 2026 AcademyHealth - Westat Westat health policy experts will be participating in the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting (ARM), May 30–June 2, 2026, in Seattle, Washington.