Ron Kassimir is an independent consultant and researcher, working with universities, non-profits, and philanthropies. He previously served as vice president of programs at the Social Science Research Council, as associate provost for research at The New School (where he was also an associate professor of politics) and, most recently as senior adviser at Columbia World Projects at Columbia University and interim director of its Center for Political Economy. Kassimir has worked extensively in the design and implementation of interdisciplinary research programs, research capacity building efforts, and research collaborations in the U.S., Africa, and elsewhere. Currently, he writes on social science research and its impact.