Stephen Senn
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Private
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Worked in the NHS, Higher Education, The Pharmaceutical Industry and a Research Institute. Was a professor in statistics at UCL (1995-2003) and the University of Glasgow (2003-2011).
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
Statistics is a fascinating and challenging discipline with applications in many fields and links to science, mathematics and philosophy.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
President (1972-1973) and treasurer (1974-1975) of the Out of Doors Society. treasurer of Community Action 1972-1974.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
Particularly enjoyed logic and methodology (my first year option) and demography (my third year statistics option). Generally enjoyed stats more than economics. Stayed on for one further year to do an MSc in Stats and Computing.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
The camaraderie, the campus and Devon and Cornwall.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
Combination of subject offered and location.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Learned to think for myself and that problems that seem difficult at first can be solved if one perseveres.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Keep learning. Your degree is only the start.
What are your plans for the future?
I am now retired but working part time. My wife and I (also from Exeter) enjoy hiking and we meet up with friends from OODS ever year. I recently completed all the Munros but still have 6 Welsh 3000ers to do and one English one, so that’s on the list.
