Dr. Dionne Lynnette Price

February 22, 2024, Dionne Lynnette Price, 52, of Silver Spring, Maryland passed away peacefully at her home with family at her side. Dionne was born on August 29th, 1971, to Harold and Vivian Price in Portsmouth Virginia. She lived an extraordinary life that would take her from humble beginnings in her Cavalier Manor neighborhood to destinations around the world. Dionne excelled at every level of her education. She attended Portsmouth Public Schools and graduated from Manor High School as valedictorian in 1989. Dionne went on to attend her beloved Norfolk State University “NSU” where she majored in Math as part of the Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences (DNIMAS) program. While attending NSU, Dionne had summer internships at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), and the National Institute of Health (NIH). Dionne graduated from Norfolk State University as valedictorian in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. She received her Master of Science degree in Biostatistics in 1995 at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Dionne became the first African American to receive a PhD in Biostatistics from Emory University in 2001. Dionne’s experience at NIH, where she worked closely with biostatisticians analyzing data from individuals living with epilepsy, played a pivotal role in shaping her career choices. Dionne decision to work at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a statistician was driven by her desire to combine her love of teaching, her aspiration to apply her skills to real world problems, and her unwavering determination to create meaningful impact in the lives of others. When asked what she did at the FDA Dionne explained it best, “I generally answer that I am a biostatistician at the FDA, and I often get a curious stare. I then go on to say I am a part of a team of incredible scientists whose daily job is to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs and biologics”. During her time at the FDA Dionne was most proud of the work she performed as part of the FDA’s response to the COVID 19 pandemic. She was vital to this effort, working countless days and nights to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs and vaccines. Dionne also had a passion for mentoring and teaching and taught classes at the FDA, Trinity University, and Georgetown University. Dionne had an impactful 22-year career at the FDA and held the position of Deputy Director of the Office of Biostatistics in the Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the time of her passing. Dionne was an impactful leader and became President of the American Statistical Association (ASA) in 2023. She was the first African American to hold the position. As president of ASA, Dionne believed leadership was about solving problems and from her perspective, statisticians and data scientists use data to solve problems and thus, were all leaders. She enjoyed working with a community of leaders to meet the needs of the ASA members and advance the profession. Dionne’s love for education and her profession was exceeded by her love for the Lord. From her early upbringing in New Bethel Baptist Church where Dionne accepted the Lord, to her membership at People’s Community Baptist Church and later Church of the Redeemer, Dionne faithfully served. She particularly enjoyed her service as an usher, which allowed her to engage with the congregation. Her church family was truly family to her as evidenced by the lasting relationships she formed. What provided Dionne the most joy however was spending time with her friends and family. Whether it was spending time with her sorority sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. or going on girls’ trips, she loved spending time with her friends and family. Whenever a friend came to town, she was good for a bite to eat and good conversation. Dionne shared a special relationship with her brother, who she affectionately referred to as “Son”. The two would share laughs about childhood memories, discuss politics and world events, and end the conversation talking about an episode of A Different World, one of her favorite shows. During her illness she would often say “Son thank you for what you are doing” and his reply would be “You would do the same for me”. Dionne was humble and lived by the words “honor your mother and father”. Among the numerous prestigious award ceremonies and speaking engagements she attended internationally, the ones that meant the most to her, were the ones where her Mom and Dad were present. When you asked her about her activities from the previous year, she would enthusiastically share stories about her trip with Mom and Dad and her niece to Myrtle Beach and the special times with her family. Her joy was seeing the joy of others. Dionne is survived by her parents Harold and Vivian Bradby Price, her brother Rodney Price (Tia), her nieces Laila, Morgan, and Jordyn, her Grandmother Ruby Price, and a host of other family members including aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Dr. Dionne Lynnette Price

August 29, 1971 - February 22, 2024