Sol H. Pelavin Announces Retirement as AIR Chief Executive Officer Effective End of 2010
Washington, D.C. – Sol H. Pelavin, the American Institutes for Research’s (AIR) fifth President and Chief Executive Officer, today announced he is retiring, effective December 31, 2010, from the post he has held for the past decade. After leading AIR’s unprecedented growth as the world’s premier behavioral and social science organization, Pelavin will turn over the duties of AIR President and CEO to Senior Vice President David Myers, the current director of AIR’s Education, Human Development and the Workforce Division.
The announcement was officially made today by Patricia B. Gurin, chair of the AIR Board of Directors, who noted that Pelavin will remain on the AIR Board of Directors following his retirement. Myers will join the Board in 2011.
At AIR, Pelavin established a mission-driven culture that focuses on improving people’s lives, especially the disadvantaged. Pelavin has served as AIR’s President and CEO since 2001, leading an era marked by significant expansion of AIR’s education, student assessment, international development, health research and communication, human development and statistical and research methods efforts. Pelavin’s tenure is highlighted in recent years by the development of one of the nation’s leading education assessment programs and an incredible period of overall programmatic and financial growth and expansion.
Pelavin previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer at AIR, positions assumed in 1994 when the education research firm he had founded in 1982, Pelavin Associates Inc., merged with AIR to create an organization of unique capabilities across the behavioral and social sciences. Since 1994, AIR’s staff has grown from 200 to 1,500 as annual revenue increased from $12 million to $300 million. He previously worked at NTS Research Corporation, Rand Corporation, and SRI International.
“I am proud that AIR is now synonymous with high-quality research, assessment, and technical assistance around the world,” Pelavin said. “Through the hard work of more than 1,500 individuals across the globe, AIR is improving the lives of people, empowering them with research and information on education, health, workforce, and international development issues that can impact and improve their lives.”
Myers currently serves as director of AIR’s Education, Human Development and the Workforce Division, overseeing projects for the U.S. Department of Education, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and numerous state and local education agencies. Prior to joining AIR in 2006, he was Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President at Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. The author or co-author of more than 50 scientific papers and publications, Myers earned his Ph.D. from Washington State University.
“Throughout his career, David has demonstrated that he is one of the world’s leading thinkers when it comes to education and social science research. We are fortunate to have someone of David’s skills, abilities, and experience to continue the tradition of exemplary leadership at AIR,” said Gurin, professor emeritus of social psychology at the University of Michigan. “While it is impossible to replace Sol, we are confident David will build on Sol’s legacy and continue to lead AIR’s growth, vision, and impact.”
AIR is conducting a national search to select a new director for its Education, Human Development and the Workforce Division.
About AIR
Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is an independent, nonpartisan not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of health, education, and workforce productivity. For more information, visit www.air.org.
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