UofSC faculty experts: 2020 census
Posted on: April 26, 2021; Updated on: April 26, 2021
By Carol J.G. Ward, ward8@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-7549
Census numbers released April 26 – almost four months later than planned – show the U.S. population at 331,449,281. Six states gain, and seven states lose U.S. House seats ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. Based on population shifts, Texas will gain two seats. Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon each gain one seat. California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvannia and West Virginia each lose a seat. California is the most populous state with more than 39 million residents, and Wyoming is the least with less than 580,000.
The census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories to provide critical data used to provide services and support for local communities. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and other resources based on census data. The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
The University of South Carolina’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs has compiled a list of faculty experts who can discuss topics relevant to the 2020 census. To arrange interviews, contact the staff member listed with entry below. Direct questions to Carol Ward, ward8@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-7549.
Representation, federal funding and general census information
Kirk Randazzo, professor and political science department chair, can discuss the legal and policy
aspects of the census related to constitutional law and how the census translates
into potential federal funding, representation and other policy aspects.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
Robert Oldendick, political science professor, can address the importance of completing the form, the
role it plays in representation and allocation of funding for federal programs, and
concerns that individuals may have about privacy as well as the methodology and accuracy of census data gathering.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
Todd Shaw, associate professor of political science and African American studies, is an expert
in American racial and ethnic politics, African American politics, urban and local
politics and citizen participation. He can comment on the racial and ethnic implications
of the census as well as its history and the use of racial and ethnic categories since
its inception.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
Jerry Mitchell, director of the Center for Excellence for Geographic Education and a research professor
of geography, is an expert on South Carolina geography as well as environmental hazards
and recreation and tourism. He can discuss the census as it relates to the people
and landscape of South Carolina.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
Climate change, transit and social/environmental justice
Jory Fleming, a research staff member in the University of South Carolina geography department,
says the census helps communities prepare for and fight climate change. He can speak
about how census data informs plans for mass transit and bike paths, energy demand
forecasting and other aspects of sustainable community growth.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu.
Christopher Krause, a PhD candidate in the geography department, specializes in Geographic Information
Systems and geographic education. He can speak about how census data can be mapped
and analyzed; how data influence the allocation of societal resources; and how data
are used by social scientists to advocate for social, political and environmental
justice.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu.
Economy and markets
Douglas Woodward, director of the Division of Research and a professor of economics at the Darla Moore
School of Business, can discuss economic implications of the 2020 census.
News contact: Leigh-Anne Lawrence, leigh-anne.lawrence@moore.sc.edu, 803-777-4306.
Joseph Von Nessen, a research economist at the Darla Moore School of Business, is an expert on South
Carolina’s economy. He can discuss economic implications of the 2020 census.
News contact: Leigh-Anne Lawrence, leigh-anne.lawrence@moore.sc.edu, 803-777-4306.
Christopher Klause, a PhD student in geography, can speak about how census data feeds into geographic
information systems that can help businesses, nonprofits, political activists and
more to more effectively research their market, supporters and audience in a given
region.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu.
Migration and immigration
Caroline Nagel, chair of geography, can speak about how the census reveals facts about migration
and immigration, making a complete and accurate census vital for understanding changes
in in the population.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu.
Family, gender, ethnic and other topics
Jennifer Augustine is a family sociologist and family demographer who studies, teaches and can comment
on changes reflected by the census in family configurations and dynamics, including
changes in marriage, divorce and cohabitation; changes in fertility; parents' labor
force participation; trends in family residence, including children's "return" to
the nest and three-generational living; and partnering, marriage and parenthood among
same-sex couples.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
Caroline Hartnett, a classically trained demographer, can speak about the importance of the census and
broad demographic trends with more specialized research in the area of fertility rates
and family dynamics.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
Drucilla Barker, a professor of anthropology and women’s and gender studies, can discuss gender questions
related to politics, economics and the 2020 census.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
Myriam Torres is director of the Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies and clinical associate
professor of epidemiology and biostatistics in the Arnold School of Public Health.
Torres can discuss the census as it relates to growing Latino population in South
Carolina and the Southeast.
News contact: Erin Bluvas, bluvase@mailbox.sc.edu, 843-302-1681.
Robert Brame, professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, uses census data
to study crime issues and crime rate statistics.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
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