The Indiana State Data Center welcomed Robert L. Santos, the 26^th Director of the U.S. Census Bureau to the Indiana State Library Friday, February 23. Santos has held a 40-year career in Statistics during which he has worked with many outstanding research institutions across the nation. During his visit to the library, Santos emphasized that Census Bureau surveys are ongoing throughout the decade, and that our partnerships and outreach reflect this. The decennial census establishes our population base, but the annual American Community Survey is vital for understanding the ongoing changes to social, economic, and housing characteristics that affect us all. Subjects included in the survey are here. Likewise, the Economic Census is an important part of our statistical landscape of American businesses. The data practitioners who work at State Data Centers and Census Information Centers act as vital interpreters of these informational products every day, not only every 10 years.

Director Santos is the first Latino director of the Census Bureau. He grew up in the barrios of San Antonio, and has written about how his upbringing informs his way of seeing the world. He has described himself as a Mexican-American young man who loved math and loved helping people. He frequently shares his thoughts on the Census Bureau’s Director’s Blog, where you can learn about his approaches toward identity and diversity. You can also view his Fireside Chat on Thursday, February 29 with Dr. Atul Gawande from USAID here.

This blog post was submitted by Katie Springer, Director, Indiana State Data Center, Indiana State Library.