Warren Mitofsky, a pioneer in survey research methods credited with developing the art of exit polling, has been named director of interactive communications research for the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO).

Mitofsky’s affiliation with Marist is part of the college’s ongoing effort to advance the use of Internet polling through sample design, questionnaire development, and data collection and analysis.

Marist will also inaugurate the annual Warren Mitofsky Lecture in Survey Research in Spring 2002, during which Mitofsky will address a topic related to public opinion research.

"Warren Mitofsky is a master of the craft," said Marist College President Dennis J. Murray. "To have him affiliate with our nationally recognized Marist Institute is an imprimatur on the quality of MIPO’s work."

MIPO Director Lee M. Miringoff noted, "Warren Mitofsky will spearhead Marist’s efforts to better understand how the polling industry can provide accurate information through the Internet. We couldn’t be more pleased to have Warren join in our efforts." 

Mitofsky has directed exit polls for about 3,000 electoral contests over the past 34 years in the United States, Russia, Mexico and the Philippines. His record for accuracy is well known.

From 1967 to 1990, Mitofsky was executive director of the CBS News election and survey unit and was executive producer of its election night broadcasts. He conducted the first exit polls for CBS in 1967 and started the CBS News/New York Times Poll in 1975, which he directed for 15 years.

Mitofsky was the founder of Voter Research & Surveys, forerunner of the Voter News Service, an election consortium of the four major television networks. Mitofsky directed the organization from 1990 to 1993.

Mitofksy was president of both the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the National Council on Public Polls (NCPP). He currently serves as president of the Research Industry Coalition. He received AAPOR’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, and was named a fellow at Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center in 1995. Mitofsky is a fellow of the American Statistical Association and serves on the boards of the Roper Center and the New York State Committee on Open Government.

Mitofsky will continue to serve as president of Mitofsky International, his Manhattan-based research company.