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

EAST LANSING, MI—Following a national search, Cristián Doña-Reveco, Ph.D., has been named director of the Julian Samora Research Institute (JSRI) and appointed to the Department of Sociology, effective August 1, 2026.

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, with a focus on service delivery systems, health disparities, entrepreneurship, human capital, leadership development, and education, especially among Latinos.

Doña-Reveco has extensive leadership and research experience, having led interdisciplinary initiatives and supported student and faculty engagement activities. He currently serves as the director of the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) and associate professor of sociology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

“Dr. Doña-Reveco brings scholarly expertise and a strong ability to connect research with communities, which is essential to JSRI’s work,” said Kwesi Brookins, vice provost for University Outreach and Engagement (UOE), where JSRI is housed. “His ability to translate research into real-world impact will help deepen the institute’s partnerships with our campus community and expand its reach to support Latinx communities.”

Doña-Reveco’s research centers around international migration in the Americas, Latino communities in the U.S. Midwest, immigrant perceptions, and the impact of crises on Latino communities. As director of OLLAS, he has also led several community-engaged research projects and initiatives with the Latino community.

Prior to his position at University of Nebraska at Omaha, Doña-Reveco spent two years in Santiago, Chile, conducting field research on North-South migration and teaching at Universidad Diego Portales and Universidad Alberto Hurtado. He has also worked as a consultant for the International Organization for Migration and the Population Division of the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

A two-time graduate of Michigan State University, Doña-Reveco holds a Ph.D. in sociology and history and an M.A. in sociology. He also earned a master’s degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and a bachelor’s degree from Universidad de Chile.

“Returning to Michigan State University is especially meaningful to me,” Doña-Reveco said. “I look forward to reconnecting with a community that shaped my academic path and to guiding JSRI’s continued growth in the years ahead.”

As director of JSRI, Doña-Reveco will provide strategic leadership for the institute’s research, outreach, and partnership efforts, advancing its mission to produce knowledge that informs policy and strengthens Latino communities. 

UOE extends its appreciation to Manuel “Manny” Chavez, who served as the institute’s interim director, and will continue through July 31. We look forward to his continued involvement with JSRI and University Outreach and Engagement.

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.