Richard V. Reeves is the founding president of the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM), which he launched in 2023 to address the challenges facing boys and men through evidence-based research. He is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, where he previously held the John C. and Nancy D. Whitehead Chair in Economic Studies. His work has appeared in major media outlets including The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. His current research priorities include the impact and importance of fatherhood and gender gaps in education.
Richard is also the author of several influential books. His latest book, “Of Boys and Men,” was included on President Barack Obama’s Summer Reading List in 2024:
• “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It” (2022)
• “John Stuart Mill: Victorian Firebrand” (2008)
Earlier in his career, Richard was director of the U.K.-based think tank Demos, director of futures at the Work Foundation, principal policy adviser to the U.K. minister for welfare reform, social affairs editor at The Observer, economics correspondent at The Guardian, and a researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry at the University of London.
He has consulted for Opportunity Insights at Harvard University, led by economist and AIBM advisory council member Raj Chetty, and served on Canada’s Ministerial Advisory Committee on Poverty.
Richard holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oxford University and a doctorate from the University of Warwick. His work is informed by both his academic background and personal experience as a father.
To get in contact with Richard, please email [email protected].
Publications
Obama on the male malaise: 8 takeaways
Why he thinks it is time to focus more on boys and men
Mental Health
Men’s Health Month: Why it matters
Too many men are slipping through the cracks. Richard V. Reeves explains why men’s health and mental health matters for everyone.
Education & Skills, Fatherhood & Family
A generation of lost men? The reality of NEET data
Explore NEET trends and the rise of “lost men”—youth not in education, employment, or training—shaped by gender, race, disability, and more.
Deaths from drowning: The facts
Men have higher drowning rates—2 vs 0.6 per 100 k in 2023—across ages and races. Contributing factors may include risk-taking behavior, alcohol consumption and exposure.
Education & Skills
The HEAL Economy
This brief highlights HEAL jobs in health, education, and literacy, noting their growth, accessibility, and the underrepresentation of men compared to women in STEM.
Black Boys & Men, Mental Health
The new race gap in drug overdose deaths: The rising toll on Black men
Overdose rates for Black and AI/AN men have surged, driven by fentanyl. Learn about the racial disparities and urgent need for targeted intervention.
Education & Skills
Boys, girls, and grades: Examining GPA and SAT trends
Boys make up 67% of the lowest GPAs and 34% of the highest. On the SAT, boys are the majority on both extremes, excelling in math but lagging in reading and writing.
Education & Skills, Employment
7 key facts about male teachers
The share of male teachers in public K-12 schools has dropped significantly, especially at the secondary level. This brief dives into key findings around the teacher pipeline.
Black Boys & Men, Education & Skills
HBCUs at a crossroads: Addressing the decline in Black male enrollment
Black men now make up only 26% of students at HBCUs, down from 38% in 1976, leading to fewer benefiting from the supportive environment these institutions offer.
Education & Skills, Employment, Fatherhood & Family
No, young men are not turning away from gender equality
But like many women, they have mixed feelings about feminism.
Black Boys & Men, Mental Health
Six facts on men’s health
Men face significant health challenges. Compared to women, men have a lower life expectancy, higher COVID-19 mortality rates, and are four times more likely to die by suicide. However, there are very few public health goals and covered preventive services for men.
Employment, Fatherhood & Family, Mental Health, Black Boys & Men, Education & Skills
Melinda French Gates invests in boys and men: a new era for gender equality
Melinda French Gates is investing in boys and men, showing that the gender equality movement has space for men and boys without sacrificing its focus on women and girls. AIBM President Richard Reeves has been selected to direct a portion of these investments.
Education & Skills, Employment
Research summary: Three ideas to help boys at school
In this research summary, Richard V. Reeves proposes three distinct policy approaches to address gender gaps in education, ranging from gender-neutral to gender-based policies, advocating for interventions aimed at creating a more male-friendly K-12 education system.
Education & Skills
Degrees of difference: Male college enrollment and completion
This brief explores the dimensions of male achievement in higher education, focusing on completion and enrollment across time, racial groups and institutional types.
Employment, Education & Skills
Missing misters: Gender diversity among teachers
Learn about the male teacher shortage in U.S. schools, its impact on boys' education, and why it should be a policy priority.
Mental Health, Education & Skills
We must pay more attention to young men
The growing political gap between Gen Z men and women does not bode well...
Mental Health
Male suicide: Patterns and recent trends
A look at male suicide patterns by age, race, geography and over time.
Black Boys & Men, Employment, Education & Skills, Fatherhood & Family, Mental Health
Washington State fact sheet
A fact sheet on the challenges boys and men face in Washington State
Black Boys & Men, Education & Skills, Employment, Fatherhood & Family, Mental Health
Why Washington State should create a Commission on Boys and Men
Lawmakers in Washington State may be about to lead the nation by establishing a bipartisan Commission on Boys and Men.
Education & Skills, Employment
We need more apprenticeships
For young men struggling to transition into work, apprenticeships are a good alternative to college
Education & Skills, Black Boys & Men, Mental Health
The math gap that’s not what you think it is
Plus: discussing loneliness with the Surgeon General and a landmark essay on masculinity
Employment, Mental Health, Black Boys & Men, Education & Skills, Fatherhood & Family
Some news I can’t wait to share: AIBM
Why I'm founding the American Institute for Boys and Men
Mental Health
The fragile beauty of male friendship
The friendship recession is hitting young men the hardest
Mental Health, Education & Skills, Black Boys & Men, Fatherhood & Family
Into the vacuum demons pour
Why neglecting male issues is bad for our culture and politics
