Before joining the Department of Statistics in 2024, Jillian was an Assistant Professor of Statistical and Data Sciences at the College of Wooster. Jillian received her PhD in Statistical Science from Washington State University, and she is also the Communications Chair of the Caucus for Women in Statistics.

Her research focuses on problems in both the physical and social sciences, and she has also worked on designing data science programs and building statistical software packages for visualizing data. In her research she has also collaborated with experts in psychology, chemistry, education, and veterinary medicine.