Luca Maria Pesando

Luca Maria Pesando is an Associate Professor and Associate Program Head of Social Research and Public Policy at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). Previously, he held positions at McGill University and is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania's Population Studies Center and Bocconi University's Dondena Centre. His research focuses on family dynamics, poverty, inequality, and demographic trends in low- and middle-income countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. He combines sociological and demographic theories with advanced quantitative methods and big data analytics, including data from digital platforms like Google and Facebook.

Education: BA and MA from Bocconi University, MA and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.

Research Interests: Family poverty, education inequality, technology adoption, policy evaluation, and global demographic transformations. He emphasizes international comparative studies and uses big data to map socio-demographic phenomena, especially in crisis contexts.

Awards: Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship (2022–2025), William Dawson Scholar (McGill University).

Roles & Collaborations: Part-time consultant for UNICEF Office of Research and MIT Solve. Teaches courses on inequality, global education policies, and family policies, integrating field experiences (e.g., Rwanda).