Contact: Emily Springer, Communication Manager, Communication and Information Technology, University Outreach and Engagement, sprin116@msu.edu

EAST LANSING, MI—Manuel (Manny) Chavez, Ph.D., a professor in MSU’s School of Journalism, has been named interim director of the Julian Samora Research Institute (JSRI), effective early September 2025.

JSRI, a premier Latino research institute in the Midwest, generates, disseminates, and applies knowledge to serve the needs of communities in the region and across the nation by highlighting entrepreneurship, health disparities, and service delivery, especially among Latinos. JSRI is housed in MSU’s Office of University Outreach and Engagement (UOE).

“Dr. Chavez brings valuable expertise and insight that will be instrumental during this time of transition,” said Kwesi Brookins, vice provost for UOE. “We are thankful for his leadership and dedication to ensuring the institute continues to thrive and support Latino communities.”

Chavez is a leading scholar in media studies whose work explores models of access to information, accountability, and transparency. He specializes on issues related to Latino communities, including news consumption, political attitudes, immigration, and crisis coverage. He has authored numerous articles and books and has been awarded multiple grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Tinker Foundation, U.S. Department of Education (USDE), U.S. Department of State, and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).

He serves as a reviewer for NSF and USDE competitions as well as for several peer-reviewed journals. In 2019, Chavez received the AEJMC-Knudson Latin America Prize for his edited volume News Media Coverage of Environmental Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean: Mediating Demand, Degradation and Development.

Chavez is currently collaborating on a multi-institutional research project examining news avoidance and political attitudes, with a focus on how perspectives compare and differ among those of other social and racial/ethnic groups. His additional research investigates risk communication related to natural hazards and disasters, particularly how information is provided to non-English speakers in hurricane-prone areas such as Puerto Rico.

Chavez will remain in the interim role until a permanent director is appointed.

About the Julian Samora Research Institute

JSRI’s research and findings on social, economic, educational, and political issues are pivotal in communicating with academic institutions, government officials, community leaders, and private sector executives. Providing expertise to Latino communities assists in developing policy responses to local changes, supporting leadership development, empowerment, and education.