Rashawn Ray, a Professor of Sociology and Executive Director of the Lab for Applied Social Science Research (LASSR) at the University of Maryland, College Park, is an expert in racial equity, policing and criminal justice reform, health policy, wealth, and family policy. He has testified at both federal and state levels and has developed a virtual reality program for law enforcement and conducted implicit bias trainings for thousands of employees, police officers, and military personnel. Ray is a regular contributor to CNN, BBC, and NPR, and has written for publications such as the New York Times, USA Today, and Business Insider. He is also a Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution and serves on the National Advisory Committee for the RWJF Health Policy Research Scholars Program. Ray's research focuses on racial and social inequality, particularly in police-civilian relations and men's treatment of women. He has published numerous books, articles, and op-eds, and his work has appeared in prestigious academic journals such as the American Journal of Sociology and Science Advances. Ray has received several awards for his contributions to sociology and public engagement with science. He is a sought-after speaker and addresses topics such as creating civility and tolerance in an uncivil society, embracing diversity in the workplace, reducing racial disparities in policing, and the impact of social media on societal divisions.