Demographics Staff
Dr. Qian Cai (pronounced “chien tsai”) is director of the Demographics and Workforce Group at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. She is principal investigator for multiple research grants from the Census Bureau, Virginia Governor’s Office and various state agencies.
A native of China, Qian received a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1991 and a master’s degree in demography in 1994, both from Peking University. She received a Ph.D. in sociology from Brown University in 2000.
Dustin Cable is the resident policy associate at the Demographics & Workforce Group and has expertise in many diverse fields of inquiry. With his education and experience in systems analysis, public policy, and political theory, Dustin understands larger social and political contexts and incorporates these insights into the Group’s demographic work. Before joining us, he worked on Capitol Hill where he helped write legislation on small business innovation and health care reform. Dustin’s current research interests are on the democratization of technical knowledge and practices.
Achsah Carrier has worked at the Cooper Center for nearly 20 years studying workforce issues in Virginia and directing career information and resource projects funded by the Virginia Department of Education.
She earned her B.A. from the University of Virginia and her Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from the University of London. She taught for many years at the University of Papua New Guinea and as an adjunct faculty member at the Durham University and the University of Newcastle in England before returning home to Charlottesville.
Susan Clapp conducts statistical research and analysis for the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, Demographics and Workforce Group. Ms. Clapp’s areas of expertise include statistical and survey methods, manipulating and analyzing large datasets, and applying both statistical analysis and project management techniques to improve quality and efficiency.
Meredith Strohm Gunter represents the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia as Outreach Director for the Demographics and Workforce Group. Dr. Gunter’s career experience includes senior administrative posts at three institutions of higher education in Virginia, policy and special initiative development for the Governor’s Office, international services and support for a major Virginia law firm, and a number of freelance writing, editing, and planning projects.
Blue O'Connell is the Demographics & Workforce office assistant. Her tasks include database management, website maintenance, and general fiscal and clerical office duties.
Mike Spar is responsible for the Center's annual series of population estimates and school enrollment projections. He is the former editor of the Virginia Statistical Abstract, and is an expert in the area of census data and internal migration. Dr. Spar has advanced degrees in Anthropology and Sociology, the latter from the University of Virginia. He has been employed as a demographer for his entire career, first as Co-Director of the Population Research Unit at the Urban Studies Center, University of Louisville, and later as a Research Associate in the Demographics & Workforce Group at the Cooper Center.
Becky Tippett performs research and analysis for the Demographics and Workforce Group at the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. She uses demographic methods and other quantitative approaches to understand patterns of stratification and inequality. Becky’s current work focuses on household economic well-being, with specific attention to indebtedness.