Census Experts

The Constitution requires a census every 10 years to count every resident in the United States. The data collected guides the distribution of more than $400 billion in federal funds for infrastructure and services, such as hospitals, schools and bridges, and determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

• Isaac W. Eberstein, the Charles Meade Grigg Professor of Sociology and director of FSU’s Center for Demography and Population Health, (850) 644-7108; ieberstn@fsu.edu
  Eberstein studies health and mortality, with a particular focus on inequality and social differentials. He can discuss the purpose of the on the census form and the ongoing American Community Survey, which the U.S. Census Bureau sends out annually to about 3 million households.
  
• Felipe Korzenny, professor of communication and director of FSU’s Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication, (850) 583-0378; fkorzenny@fsu.edu
  Korzenny was one of five distinguished scholars who was asked to serve on an independent panel reviewing the paid media/advertising portion of the 2010 Census Integrated Communications Campaign. He can discuss why an effective communications campaign is crucial to participation in the 2010 Census and the importance of the response from the Latino population — America’s fastest growing but traditionally undercounted population.
  
• Carl Schmertmann, professor of economics and research associate in FSU’s Center for Demography and Population Health, (850) 644-7100; schmertmann@fsu.edu
  Schmertmann studies demographic methods, economic demography, migration and statistics. As a member of the Population Association of America’s advisory board for the U.S. Census, he serves as a technical consultant to the Census Bureau. He is well informed about the American Community Survey, which is a new type of survey that is replacing the data previously collected on decennial census long forms. He also can discuss ways researchers use census data.
  
• Carol Weissert, LeRoy Collins Eminent Scholar Chair and professor of political science: (850) 644-7320 or (850) 297-0111; cweissert@fsu.edu
  Weissert teaches American politics and elections. Her research interests include state politics, intergovernmental relations and federalism, and health policy. She can discuss the implications of various methods of conducting redistricting, the implications of the Florida Fair Districts proposal and related political issues regarding redistricting in Florida and other states.