Inaugural Chair for Countering Truth Decay
RAND has named Ray Block as the inaugural Michael D. Rich Chair for Countering Truth Decay. Ray joins RAND from the Pennsylvania State University, where he is an associate professor of political science and African American studies and the Laurence and Lynn Brown-McCourtney Endowed Career Professor in Penn State's McCourtney Institute for Democracy.
“Ray's vast experience studying civic involvement and the formation of public opinion makes him an excellent choice to take the helm of RAND's seminal Truth Decay work,” said Jason Matheny, RAND's president and CEO. “With the country divided, countering Truth Decay and restoring the role of facts and analysis in public life is critical and I look forward to working with Ray to drive this important work forward.”
Ray Block
Photo courtesy of Penn State
RAND supporters raised more than $5 million to create this endowed chair, with the goal of advancing research aimed at countering Truth Decay while paying tribute to former RAND president and CEO Michael D. Rich, who initiated RAND's Truth Decay work and made it an integral part of RAND's research agenda. Block will continue to build the Truth Decay agenda, develop new research streams, and expand the impact and reach of this research.
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