Ester R. Fuchs

Ester R. Fuchs is Professor of International and Public Affairs and Director of the Urban and Social Policy Program at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. She has held significant leadership roles including chair of the Urban Studies Program at Barnard and Columbia Colleges and founding director of the Columbia University Center for Urban Research and Policy.

Professor Fuchs served as Special Advisor to the Mayor for Governance and Strategic Planning under New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg from 2001 to 2005. Her research interests span several critical areas of public policy:

• Urban policy and social policy
• Governance and strategic planning
• Smart cities and technology applications in government
• Voter engagement and democratic participation

Currently, Professor Fuchs serves as Director of WhosOnTheBallot.org, an online voter engagement initiative designed to improve voter turnout through a single online portal that provides customized sample ballots, polling place locations, and candidate information.

Her distinguished career has been recognized with several awards:

• Distinguished Alumna Award from Queens College
• Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Award for Outstanding Teaching
• NYC's Excellence in Technology Award for Best IT Collaboration among Agencies for Access New York

Professor Fuchs has demonstrated leadership in both academic and governmental settings, bridging theory and practice in public administration. Her work with Mayor Bloomberg's administration and her current voter engagement initiatives show her commitment to practical applications of public policy research.

She is affiliated with the Smart Cities Committee at Columbia University, reflecting her interest in the intersection of technology and urban governance.