Dimock is New President for Pew Center

In Washington, veteran survey researcher and political scientist Michael Dimock has been promoted to President of the Pew Research Center, effective today.

Dimock has worked at the Center for fourteen years, most recently as EVP. In his new role he will oversee the Center's overall operations and research agenda, covering politics, religion, demographics, media, technology and international issues.

Dimock worked as a political science professor at North Carolina State University before joining the Center in 2000. He became AD for Research in 2004 and succeeded the Center's founding director Andrew Kohut as leader of the political polling unit in 2012. He has co-authored several of the center's landmark research reports, covering long-term political and social trends and polling from recent presidential cycles; and in 2014 he oversaw the largest US political survey the Center has conducted, looking in-depth at political polarization within the American public. A regular election night analyst on NPR, he holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California-San Diego and a B.A. in political science from the University of Houston.

Rebecca Rimel, President and CEO of parent organisation The Pew Charitable Trusts says of the promotion: 'I am extremely pleased that Michael Dimock has agreed to serve as the Pew Research Center's president at a key moment in the organization's history. Michael is a seasoned researcher and a careful, clear interpreter of the facts. His expertise, creativity and leadership have increased the center's impact as a provider of impartial findings on the critical issues facing America and the world.' Don Kimelman, Chairman of the Pew Research Center board, says Dimock has displayed 'pitch-perfect judgment and deep dedication' throughout his time at the Center.

Dimock himself comments: 'I'm honored to now lead my extraordinary colleagues as we provide authoritative research that can be relied upon by all sides of the political spectrum. For a social scientist like me, there can be no higher calling than expanding the foundation of trusted facts that our society needs to solve its problems.'

The organisation's home page is at www.pewresearch.org .