American Institutes for Research Annual Report

Excerpt from AIR Annual Report:

Joint Letter from the Chair and the President

AIR’s mission is clear, direct and powerful. We conduct and apply behavioral and social science research to improve people’s lives and well-being, with a special emphasis on the disadvantaged. That ideal is the driving force that motives the work of AIR’s leaders and staff.

Building upon more than six decades of success, our work allows us to have an increasingly significant role in bringing about positive,evidence-based social change in areas like education, health and the workplace. More than ever, we are called upon to answer complex questions with solutions that encompass many disciplines and take into account an intricate web of social, behavioral and cultural considerations.

One tangible measure of AIR’s success is our continuing growth as an organization. In 2000, we had just under 600 employees and an annual budget of a little over $80 million. Today our staff numbers around 1,300 and our budget is $270 million. While the growth is impressive, as a nonprofit organization, we measure success by the benefits our work produces.

We take special pride in harnessing insights from the behavioral and social sciences in ways that make everyday life better. For example, AIR assists the federal government in providing high-quality data on education that informs policymaking. We support the efforts of states and school districts to improve the quality of education for all students, while providing a means for measuring student progress. Our experts are assisting medical teams learn how to reduce hospital errors. We provide Congress with insights on the myriad of challenges facing Medicare and Medicaid, and we provide international health and education services that bring hope to developing nations around the globe.

Our staff ranks among the best in their fields, frequently publishing in top journals and often cited by the news media for their expertise. We take special interest in nurturing the knowledge and skills of our staff – while always reaching out to gifted and committed individuals and like-minded organizations to join our efforts.

We invite you to learn more about AIR, so you can understand why we take such pride in what we do.

Sol H. Pelavin
President and CEO

Patricia B. Gurin
Chair, Board of Directors