At the beginning of August, Dr. Cristián Doña-Reveco returned to Michigan State University, his alma mater, to assume the role of Director of the Julian Samora Research Institute (JSRI). Previously, he served as the Director of the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, another of the currently 21 IUPLR center members.
Originally from Chile, Dr. Doña-Reveco earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Universidad de Chile, and later a master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He came to the United States in 2005, eventually earning a dual Ph.D. in History and Sociology from Michigan State University, with his dissertation focused on Chilean migration to the US starting from the 1950s.
Dr. Doña-Reveco’s brings to JSRI a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as a strong commitment to advancing Latino and Latin American Studies and supporting underrepresented Latino communities in the United States.
Since its establishment in 1989, the Julian Samora Research Institute has produced several research reports involving Latino communities, including an ongoing line of research focused on the oral histories of Latinos in the Midwest. Through a partnership with the Census Bureau and IUPLR, the JSRI also operates as a Census Information Center, which allows the institute opportunities to work directly with and disseminate Census data showcasing the unwritten stories of underserved communities in the Midwest.
While Dr. Doña-Reveco may be a recent addition to the leadership team of the JSRI, he has a long history with them dating back to his time working on his dissertation, where his work was partially funded by a fellowship from the JSRI. The work that the institute has done with MSU students has grown over time, now providing scholarship opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students to engage in community research while furthering their own academic careers, reflecting the commitment to the community that the JSRI has maintained since its inception.
“”Dr. Doña-Reveco hopes to utilize the institute’s unique position and the resources provided by IUPLR to create collaborative research projects that would paint a more all-encompassing picture of Latino and Latin American communities in the US.”
The incoming Director deeply values the Julian Samora Research Institute’s distinctive focus on social capital and its potential to expand knowledge, participation, and opportunity in rural Latino communities. For him, this commitment to community engagement is central to the JSRI’s mission and one of its most important contributions. As part of Michigan State University’s Outreach and Engagement unit, the institute is especially well positioned to build partnerships between MSU faculty and community members. These relationships help ensure that research is not simply conducted about Latino communities, but is shaped by their priorities, experiences, and locally relevant concerns. By serving as a bridge between the university and the wider community, JSRI can produce scholarship that is both rigorous and responsive.
Dr. Doña-Reveco hopes to utilize the institute’s unique position and the resources provided by IUPLR to create collaborative research projects that would paint a more all-encompassing picture of Latino and Latin American communities in the US. He believes this broader vision could be advanced through comparative, community-focused research among all institutions affiliated with IUPLR. Such collaboration would allow participating centers to examine how Latino communities experience different regional conditions, institutional environments, and policy challenges, while identifying shared strategies for meaningful community engagement.
He believes that IUPLR has the potential to become an influential academic voice for local governments and public institutions. In this capacity, the consortium could serve as a platform for the faculty, research centers, and universities as whole to bring scholarly expertise and community-based knowledge into policy discussions and public debate.
He expresses deep admiration for Latino Studies and ethnic studies more broadly, emphasizing the important impact these programs have on students. At the same time, he is aware of the threats facing the field, many of which stem from the current political climate in the US. He argues that when cultural identity is discouraged in educational spaces, students may be less likely to engage with Latino Studies or to see their experiences and histories reflected in academic life. “This lack of representation can also negatively affect Latino students’ academic performance and sense of belonging,” he states.
“IUPLR has the potential to become a recognizable academic voice for local governments […] by becoming an active participant on policy and political debates, IUPLR can fight on behalf of academia and on behalf of Latino Studies in general“
These challenges are compounded by inadequate funding for programs that illuminate the histories, cultures, and experiences of underrepresented communities while addressing their needs and concerns. Without sufficient institutional support, Latino Studies and ethnic studies programs may be able to offer fewer courses, research opportunities, and forms of student engagement. As a result, students who might otherwise be interested in the field may be discouraged from pursuing it.
This is why a consortium like IUPLR is especially relevant at this moment. By connecting Latino Studies centers, faculty, students, and community partners across institutions, IUPLR strengthens the field’s collective capacity to respond to political pressures, advocate for sustained institutional support, and expand the public reach of policy-oriented and community-engaged research.
By: Alex Taveras, Research Assistant, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, ataveras2@ccny.cuny.edu