Professor Sonalde Desai was just named a Distinguished University Professor. The title is the highest honor that the university bestows on faculty members for their contributions to their fields of research. Desai is a demographer whose work deals primarily with social inequalities in developing countries, with a particular focus on gender and class inequalities. She is also affiliated with the MPRC, and is president-elect of the Population Association of America.

“I have been incredibly fortunate in working with wonderful students and colleagues at University of Maryland and in India at the National Council of Applied Economic Research, and am really honored to have our joint achievements recognized,” Professor Desai said.

Among her many projects, Professor Desai is the principal investigator for the India Human Development Survey, India’s first nationwide panel survey of more 40,000 households, which explores and informs policy on significant issues, including child and family welfare.

“Sonalde is a distinguished and effective demographer whose work sheds light on social inequalities in developing countries, with a particular focus on gender and class inequalities. Her work is as timely as it is effective. Our community greatly admires her scholarship and her service,” Dean Ball said.