June 22, 2026 – The Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS) is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors. These accomplished leaders bring a wealth of experience in federal statistics, data user concerns, and deep knowledge of the federal statistical system. Each of them will play an instrumental role in guiding the organization’s strategic vision.
The newly appointed board members are:
- Mark Mather, Population Reference Bureau
- Peggy Carr, former NCES Commissioner
- Rob Santos, former Census Director
“We’re excited for the fresh perspective these three seasoned researchers will bring to our efforts to support and defend the federal statistical system.” said Andy Weiss, Chair of the COPAFS Board. “Throughout their careers, they have been exceptional champions for the statistical agencies that produce the nation’s data.”
Brief Background of New Members:
- Mark Mather is Associate Vice President of Programs at the Population Reference Bureau. He has more than 25 years of experience communicating population research to policymakers, educators, journalists, and the public. Dr. Mather directs PRB’s Federal Data Forum, which provides policymakers and practitioners with accessible data and analysis on federal programs and policy.
- Peggy Carr is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Maryland in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology. A nationally recognized leader in education statistics, Dr. Carr served as Associate Commissioner of the Assessment Division for NCES for nearly 20 years, before serving as NCES Commissioner from 2021 to 2025.
- Rob Santos served as the 26th director of the U.S. Census Bureau from 2022 to 2025. Prior to joining the Census Bureau, he was the vice president for statistical methods and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute where he also served as the COPAFS representative. Rob also served as president of the American Statistical Association in 2021 and president of the American Association for Public Opinion Research in 2013-2014.
For more information about the COPAFS Board of Directors, please visit: https://copafs.org/about/board-of-directors/
About COPAFS
Since 1981, COPAFS has provided an open dialog between those who use federal statistics in professional contexts and the federal statistical agencies that produce those statistics for the public good. For more information, visit www.copafs.org