Dr. Ronald F. Ferguson is an MIT-trained economist who has served on the faculty at Harvard University for more than three decades. His research has applied social science research to economic, social, and educational challenges.

His early research turned towards the study of education and youth development because academic skill disparities were contributing to growing wage disparity. A profile in the New York Times wrote, “there is no one in America who knows more about the gap than Ronald Ferguson.”

Parents' roles in early learning is a special focus of his current work. Eighty (80) percent of brain development occurs between birth and the age of three (3). Informed parenting in these formative years can ensure that children enter school on a level playing field and help shift resources from remediation toward enrichment. Health care professionals can play a significant part in helping to give parents the information and support they need to enrich their children's early development.

Dr. Ferguson has founded an initiative known as The Basics. Beginning in 2016, the program has been adopted by coalitions in over 35 U.S. cities. The Basics Strategy depends on broad community collaboration to reach extended families with five principles of advice for parenting infants and toddlers.

His most recent book (2019), co-authored with Tatsha Robertson, is The Formula: Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children.