Qian Cai

Director, Demographics Research Group

E-Mail: qian.cai@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-5581

Qian Cai (pronounced “chien tsai”) is director of the Demographics Research Group at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Drawing on her extensive knowledge of population statistics, and national reputation in applied demography, Qian oversees the group’s data production and research, ensures top quality publications and client service, and maintains an ambitious agenda for improving population data for Virginia and the nation. A native of China, Qian received a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in demography, both from Peking University. She received a Ph.D. in sociology from Brown University.

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Meredith Gunter

Director of Outreach

E-Mail: meredith.gunter@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-5585

Meredith’s current role as Director of Strategy and Public Engagement builds on her prior work as Interim Director of the Cooper Center and as outreach director for the Center’s Demographics Research Group. Prior experience includes policy and special initiative development in state government, with a particular interest in international relations, and senior leadership in several institutions of higher education. Meredith’s research, teaching, and educational achievements focus on human intellectual and ethical development, gerontology, and racial/gender equity. Meredith is a devoted locavore and dog lover.

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Hamilton Lombard

Research & Policy Analyst

E-Mail: hamilton.lombard@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-5698

Hamilton Lombard is a research specialist for the Demographics Research Group at the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. His expertise is in demographic change, particularly the different components of population growth and decline, population estimates, school enrollment projections, and the effect of government policy on population patterns. Hamilton has worked in local and regional planning in Virginia and the United Kingdom. He earned his B.A. in History and B.S. in Planning from the University of Virginia.

Shonel Sen

Research & Policy Analyst

E-Mail: shonel.sen@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-5861

Shonel Sen is a Research and Policy Analyst for the Demographics Research Group. She has a strong background in Regional Economics, Population Studies and Public Policy with training in theoretical modeling and quantitative analysis. Her interdisciplinary research interests bring together elements from the fields of Economic Development, Components of Population Change, Behavioral Incentives and Environmental Sustainability. Shonel received her B.A and M.A. in Economics from India and the Dual-Ph.D. in Applied Economics and Demography at Pennsylvania State University.

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Spencer Shanholtz

Research & Policy Analyst

E-Mail: spencer.shanholtz@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-4770

Spencer Shanholtz is a Research and Policy Analyst for the Demographics Research Group at the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. His expertise is in statistical and economic analysis and data visualization with special focus on regional and geospatial information. He has demonstrated experience related to housing, transportation, demographics, policy analysis, and economic development. Prior to joining the Demographics Research Group, Spencer worked for the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University and the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech. Spencer earned his B.A. in Geography, B.S. in Environmental Science, and Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.U.R.P) from Virginia Tech.

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Amy Muldoon

Project Manager

E-Mail: amy.muldoon@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-0812

Amy Muldoon is the coordinator for the Demographics Research Group at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. In 2010, Amy moved from Ann Arbor, Michigan where she worked at the University of Michigan as an academic advisor in the liberal arts college. She has experience designing websites, building and maintaining databases, and managing various college programs and projects. She earned her B.A. in Professional Writing from Miami University (OH) and her M.A. in English from the University of Toledo.

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Kathryn Piper Crespin

Research & Policy Analyst

E-Mail: kep9k@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-5582

Kathryn Piper Crespin is a Research and Policy Analyst for the Demographics Research Group. She enjoys writing about demography, and her training and interests include population forecasting as well as analysis, mapping, and visualization of population data. Prior to joining the Demographics Research Group, she worked as an epidemiologist for the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Utah Department of Health. Kathryn earned her B.A. in English from Georgetown University and her M.S. in Demography from Florida State University.