K. Scott Alberts, PhD
Slides from conference presentations:
GenAI in the Data Classroom: Enhancing Learning Through Strategic Dialogue: SDSS 2025
Statistics IS a Liberal Arts Major: 2018
Creating a Statistics Major: JMM 2017
Data-free Data-Visualizations: JMM 2016
BioSketch:
Scott Alberts is in his twenty-seventh year at Truman, teaching Statistics, Data Science and Interdisciplinary Studies. He currently serves as the department chair for Computer and Data Sciences and as a Consulting Principal for the Center for Applied Statistics and Evaluation, and has previously served Truman as the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, Portfolio Project Director, interim Associate Provost and Faculty Senate President.
Dr. Alberts believes that data should be used to make the world better. He researches quantitative methods for measuring behavior and decision-making, and the general process of data collection as a part of real-world projects. He frequently serves as a consultant and evaluator to the research of others, across a wide range of disciplines, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. He is interested in what should be part of modern undergraduate majors in statistics and data science, and how we can help students from a variety of backgrounds prepare for the data-driven future. Key research projects investigated group decision-making in higher education, and mathematics anxiety, looking to find ways to reduce anxiety in ways that also improve performance in mathematics and other areas.
Dr. Alberts received Truman’s Allen Fellowship for Faculty Excellence in 2010 and the MAA’s Dex Whittinghill Award for Statistics Education in 2011. He earned graduate degrees in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern University in Illinois, and undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Mathematics from Oberlin College in Ohio. He is an active member of the Consortium for Advancing Undergraduate Statistics Education (CAUSE), the honor society Phi Kappa Phi, and the American Statistical Association (ASA), where he advises Truman’s student chapter.
Dr. Alberts is also active at Trinity Episcopal Church, where he serves as the choirmaster and music director.
>He is also active with the Oberlin College Alumni Association, where he served as Alumni Association President from 2019-2021.
>When not working, he likes games and puzzles, intellectual banter, good music, and bad television.
>His wife Hyun-Joo Kim also teaches statistics here at Truman and they juggle schedules so they can handle their three children.
Courses taught at Truman since 2000:
- STAT 190 – Basic Statistics
- STAT 220 – Fundamentals of Data Science
- STAT 290 – Statistics
- STAT 310 – Data Collection and Field Methods (was 210)
- STAT 374 – Statistical Quality Control
- STAT 375 – ANOVA/Experiment Design
- STAT 376 – Nonparametric Statistics/Survey Sampling
- STAT 380 – Topics: Introduction to Statistical Consulting
- STAT 392 – Statistical Consulting w/Practicum
- STAT 412 – Advanced Consulting Practicum
- STAT 429 – DataFest! (was STAT 487)
- DATA 520/520G – Multivariate Statistics Through Data Mining (was STAT 420, 487, and 520)
- PDAT 611G – Big Data Management
- PDAT 620G – Data Science Certificate Capstone
- PDAT 622G – Narrative, Argument, and Persuasion in Data Science
- PDAT 625G – Big Data Security and Ethics
- PDAT 630G – Master’s Thesis
- MATH 400 – Introduction to Operations Research
- IDSM 175 – Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
- IDSM 475 – Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone
- JINS 352 –Why You’re Wrong: Changing the World Through Data:
- DS 480 – Disability Studies Capstone
- ENVS 340 – Environmental Practicum
Contact information:
K. Scott Alberts, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Computer and Data Sciences
Violette Hall 2100, Truman State University
Kirksville, MO 63501
salberts@truman.edu
660.785.4547