My name is Montse Fuentes, and I am originally from Spain.

Currently I’m the Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), was previously department head and the Goodnight Distinguished professor of statistics at North Carolina State.

I received bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and music (piano performance) from the University of Valladolid (Spain), and my doctorate in statistics from the University of Chicago.  I am also the principal investigator and director of the Research Network for Statistical Methods for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (STATMOS), an initiative funded by the National Science Foundation(NSF).
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My research focuses on developing new statistical methods that can aid scientists working on atmospheric issues. My research group works on projects sponsored by the NSF, the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to understand the impact of pollution on human health and to improve our skills to forecast extreme weather events. My work on statistical models that predict air pollution levels and assess health risks associated with pollution won an EPA award in 2012, and I’ve also worked on statistical models used for weather prediction and hurricane forecasting.

Music and math have always been important parts of my life. But my main passion in life is for my wonderful children – my talented dancer, Veronica (14), and my two hockey players Ethan (11) and Jaden (7). I treasure every second I spend with them and with my supportive husband, Tom. VCU provides a great environment to balance family and work, making it possible to enjoy having an amazing family and a successful career in academia.