Ray Block

Ray Block holds the Brown-McCourtney Career Development Professorship at Penn State’s McCourtney Institute while serving as Professor of Political Science and African American Studies in the College of Liberal Arts. His dual appointment reflects interdisciplinary expertise in race, gender, and political participation. Block earned his bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and political science from Howard University, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from Ohio State University.

His research focuses on racial/ethnic/gender disparities in civic engagement, social identity formation, and electoral politics. Notable themes include pandemic-driven social inequities, Black Lives Matter mobilization dynamics, and intersectional analysis of public opinion. Block also serves as a senior analyst for the African American Research Collaborative, working to improve public understanding of Black civic engagement. From 2023-2028, he holds the Michael D. Rich Distinguished Chair for Countering Truth Decay at the RAND Corporation, addressing societal misinformation challenges.

Key Achievements:

• Endowed professorships at Penn State and RAND Corporation
• Over 50 peer-reviewed publications across political science and public health journals
• Leadership in community-engaged research initiatives

His work bridges academia and public discourse, with recent projects examining vaccine hesitancy in underserved populations and the role of social media in protest movements. Block’s teaching portfolio includes courses on race/ethnicity in American politics and advanced research methods.