CHICAGO, January 13, 2026 — NORC at the University of Chicago announced today the establishment of the named Ralph Muller President and CEO position, made possible by a $1 million gift from longtime NORC trustee Ralph W. Muller.

The gift, which will be known as the Ralph Muller Chief Executive Officer Fund, will be used at the discretion of the president and CEO to help accelerate NORC’s mission and impact. Dan Gaylin, who has served as NORC’s president and CEO since 2013, will be the inaugural Ralph Muller President and CEO.

“We are deeply grateful for Ralph Muller’s transformative generosity and his unwavering commitment to NORC’s mission,” said Robert Gertner, board chair of the NORC Board of Trustees. “This historic fund recognizes Ralph’s past contributions and continued commitment to our organization’s future.”

“NORC’s commitment to objective, nonpartisan research and rigorous science has made it a trusted and deeply admired institution for more than eight decades,” said Muller. “I believe this endowment will help ensure NORC’s president and CEO has the support they need to navigate the evolving challenges facing social science research.”

Muller has served on NORC’s Board of Trustees since 1984, holding many committee and leadership positions. He is currently the chair of the Audit/Finance and Conflicted Transactions committees and a member of the Executive Committee.

Muller’s philanthropic support of academic institutions includes The Ralph Muller Presidential Professorship at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has led two major academic medical centers: the University of Chicago Hospitals and Penn Medicine. He currently serves as a trustee of several medical institutions.

“Ralph has been an invaluable mentor whose insight and expertise have helped guide NORC through periods of both challenge and growth,” Gaylin said. “I am honored to serve as the first Ralph Muller President and CEO of NORC.”