William Block is completing his first semester as director of the Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research (CISER). Block, a senior research associate, took over for John Abowd, who stepped down in December after eight and a half years that saw CISER grow to national prominence.

"John Abowd certainly leaves large shoes to fill," said Block. "He built CISER into one of the top social science research support facilities in the country. Under John's capable leadership, CISER was designated home to one of only nine Census Research Data Centers (RDCs) in the country."

RDCs provide secure physical locations for researchers using nonpublic microdata collected by the United States Census Bureau. Block, who holds a doctorate in historical demography, said one of his immediate goals is to deepen connections with the Cornell research community and beyond.

"One of the first questions I want to ask social scientists on campus is how CISER can serve them better," he said. "I also hope to work with staff at Mann Library to identify partnerships and collaborative opportunities that will benefit Mann and CISER, and help us serve our own constituencies better."

In addition, Block said, CISER also will play a key supporting role in the newly organized Cornell Population Program, "an initiative that is especially near to my heart, given my background as an historical demographer and senior staffer in the Minnesota Population Center at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities."

Finally, CISER will benefit from interactions beyond Cornell as well, he said.

"I have good contacts in the national and international social science data and research support community; connecting CISER staff with these professional networks will raise our ability to serve to even greater heights."

At the University of Minnesota, Block was part of a team that built the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series, which "The Journal of American History" described as "one of the great archival projects of the past two decades." Block also holds positions in various national and international social scientific research and support associations, including the Social Science History Association and the International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology.

"I want people to know that CISER can't wait to support the research needs of Cornell's social science community," Block said. "Simply put, CISER's services are already on par with the best in the world, and I aim to make them even better."