Building initiatives to encourage more Black and brown students to become more involved and aware of government policy, Xavier University of Louisiana hosts many events that promote the educational aspect of the nation’s democracy. On November 14th, Robert Santos, the first person of color to direct the U.S. Census Bureau, visited Xavier’s campus and spoke to students.

Director Santos shared his experiences advancing in the quantitative tech field, stories of Black and Latinx leaders who paved the way before his tenure, and how he navigated his own challenges on his journey to becoming the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau. The 26th Director of the Census Bureau, Santos is the first Latino in the position and takes pride in expressing and accepting himself as much as he can. While speaking to Xavier’s students, his more casual appearance was refreshing for students.

“The first thing that you might notice about me is that I tried not to look like your regular D.C. diplomat, and it was deliberate,” Santos explained.

Santos attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where he majored in math and has had a 40-year-long career where he was the sole Latino in a room full of decision-makers. Being the only person of color made it imperative that he voiced his perspective, and with him just being himself, he can talk to people and inspire them to bring about their whole selves.

“I was the first Latino to be acquainted with the president. I have always known that there is a need to speak my voice and his perspective about what I thought was going on,” Santos said.

The Census Bureau's mission is to serve as the nation's leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. In addition to fulfilling the constitutional mandate of conducting a once-a-decade population and housing count that is used to determine the number of seats for each state in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Census Bureau has over 130 other surveys and programs that provides timely, relevant and useful data that paint a portrait of our nation.

As the leader of the Census Bureau, Director Santos oversees the large federal statistical agency. He participates in study sections where groups of scientists gather to review grant applications about research concerning topics like health care. For example, before the Affordable Care Act, many people didn’t have health insurance and primarily needed treatment or chronic pain conditions. After understanding the implications of the results, his team developed strategies to give options to those without insurance access to health care while not bankrupting hospitals.

“I could not approve of the solution they [originally] suggested because then we are contributing to a two-tier health system; if you have insurance, you can get the best care you want, but if you don’t, then you would have to think your way through the pain with this new ‘alternative’ therapy [they were proposing],” Santos said.

 

Santos invited students to consider careers at the U.S. Census, emphasizing that there was much more under the institution’s purview that just statistics. The Bureau also has a hand in studying climate change and crime data that then can be used by policy-makers. He shared that the data produced by the Bureau was invaluable; business majors might find themselves as business analysts; public health majors will find themselves influenced by data about their patients; future social scientists need to understand the different aspects of the community they want to study; the list goes on.

Bringing his perspective and life experiences as a person of color from an underrepresented culture to the table has paved the way for the inclusion of more diverse scientific experts and outlooks. This is just one example where Director Santos had to speak up for those who didn’t have a voice in the room. It is essential for people in those high positions to frame their thinking in ways that will aid the general public. He wholeheartedly believes that it is essential to equip students with the knowledge that will benefit the country as a whole.

“While I am talking to you, I see all of these beautiful people of color, a mixed diverse group of students,” said Santos. “You’ll all need to understand that everything you’ve gone through in your life is unique, and you’re bringing a perspective that you can’t let yourself down and not bring that to the table.” Xavier students interested in learning more about potential careers at the bureau are encouraged to connect with the Bureau.

Story by Tyana Jackson, Student Contributor