Remembering Kenneth Prewitt

Political scientist and public servant Kenneth “Ken” Prewitt, the AAPSS’s 2001 Harold Lasswell Fellow and its president from 2015 to 2021, passed away on June 5. Prewitt, 90, was most recently Carnegie Professor Emeritus of Public Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Born in 1936 in Alton, Illinois, Prewitt received his BA from Southern Methodist University, his MA from Washington University in St. Louis, and his PhD in political science from Stanford University. He taught at the University of Chicago from 1965 to 1982, with additional stints at Stanford University, Washington University in St. Louis, The New School, the University of Nairobi, and Makerere University. Much of his research and writing examined the role of science in public policy and the politics of racial classification in America.

Prewitt’s dedication to public service extended his influence far beyond scholarly circles. In his own words, he was an “academic temporarily parked elsewhere,” serving as director of the US Census Bureau (1998–2001), president of the Social Science Research Council (1979–1985, 1995–1998), senior vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation (1985–1995), and director of the National Opinion Research Center (1976–1979). As leader of Census 2000 under President Bill Clinton, Prewitt not only managed the decennial effort’s budget, staffing, and measurement but also advocated for public confidence and participation in the census through appearances before Congress and in the popular media, calling it “a civic activity of the highest order.” Those experiences informed his subsequent writings about census mobilization and data collection.

“Ken Prewitt had a genius for understanding the scientific enterprise in its broadest terms and then applying that knowledge to public works and intellectual projects that benefit society,” said AAPSS Executive Director Tom Kecskemethy, who worked with Prewitt during his time as AAPSS president. “He was a remarkable scholar and an outstanding leader of our academy.” During his presidency, Prewitt’s connections in DC and beyond strengthened the Academy’s network and reputation among policymakers. He continued to write about the census in essays for the AAPSS’s blog and in articles (and a coedited volume) in The ANNALS.

The AAPSS extends its condolences to Prewitt’s family, friends, and colleagues. He is survived by his wife, Susan Mullin Vogel, and two children.

Read more about Prewitt’s work and legacy, as shared by some of the other organizations he served throughout his career:

• Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs: In Memory of SIPA Professor Kenneth Prewitt
• US Census Bureau: Remembering Kenneth Prewitt
• Social Science Research Council: The Council Mourns the Passing of Former SSRC President Kenneth Prewitt
• NORC at the University of Chicago: In Memoriam – Kenneth Prewitt, Renowned Political Scientist and Former NORC Director