Allison Plyer

Chief Demographer, The Data Center

Allison received her Doctorate in Science from Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine with a dissertation entitled “An analysis of administrative data for measuring population displacement and resettlement following a catastrophic U.S. event.” Allison is recognized as an international expert in post–Katrina demographics and disaster recovery trends. Allison spearheaded the City of New Orleans’ challenge to the Census Bureau’s 2007 and 2008 population estimate, resulting in an upward revision of nearly 75,000 to the Bureau’s estimate of the city’s population.

Dr. Plyer is the most recent past Chair of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Scientific Advisory Committee (CSAC). She served on CSAC from 2015-2021 and as Chair from 2018-2021. Allison served as Racial Reconciliation Co-Chair for the 2018 Tricentennial Commission of the City of New Orleans, appointed by then Mayor Mitch Landrieu. She is also a Life Fellow of the Louisiana Effective Leadership Program.