Previously known as the Detroit Area Study, DMACS continues to regularly survey a broad, representative group of Detroit area residents about their communities, including their experiences, perceptions, priorities, and aspirations. The study has also extended its work with its Neighborhood Projects, creating a narrow focus on specific local neighborhoods within the City. In 2018, the Knight Foundation awarded DMACS $761,000 to help continue this important work.

The Monroe G. Sirken Award was established in 2014 with an endowment to recognize a distinguished researcher for contributions to interdisciplinary survey research that improve the theory and methods of collecting, verifying, processing, presenting, or analyzing survey data. Singer gave the Sirkin Award lecture at the JSM titled “Reflections on Social Surveys’ Past and Future.”

Margaret Levenstein appointed the director of the ICPSR – the largest archive of digital social science data in the world, founded in 1962. Levenstein will be the ICPSR’s first female director. “Maggie’s vision for ICPSR’s future is exciting,” said ICPSR Governing Council Chair Chandra Muller. “She has a strong academic research background, understands the potential of data science for current and future social science researchers, and has a stellar reputation both nationally and internationally. We were impressed by her skill in bringing together experts from diverse fields for the advancement of social science research goals. The Council is looking forward to working with her.”