Our history
Directors
- Darrell Lockhart, Ph.D., 2004 - 2008
- Emma Sepúlveda, Ph.D., 2009 - 2017
- Steering committee, 2017-2019
- Mario Alpuche, Ph.D.
- Lorraine Benuto, Ph.D.
- Robert Gutierrez-Perez, Ph.D.
- Jafeth Sanchez, Ph.D.
- Julie E. Lucero, MPH, Ph.D., 2019-2021
- Jafeth Sanchez Ph.D., 2022 – Present
The Latino Research Center (LRC) opened its doors fall semester of 2004 with initial startup funds from the United States (U.S.) Department of Education, supported by former U.S. Senator Harry Reid and Nevada Assemblywomen Sheila Leslie. The LRC served as an entity of the Foreign Languages Department, now the Department of World Languages & Literatures (WLL), before its 2017 reposition directly under the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. The LRC was first introduced to the University of Nevada, Reno as the Latino Institute for Advocacy in Education, Research and Policy; while the name changed, the mission has remained the same.
In 2002, Latinos in Nevada represented 18.6 percent of the state’s population with a projected one percent annual increase, becoming the fastest-growing minority, a motivation for the LRC development. Despite the anticipated growth, the Latinx community within the state had limited access to decision-making processes. The lack of research and the ability to disseminate pertinent information too often hindered the Latinx community’s ability to create a unified vision and collaboratively work on implementations.
More recently, in the fall of 2022, the Latino Research Center transitioned to be housed under the Provost’s Office. The purpose of this move is to enhance the research and outreach efforts of Latinos not only within the university but statewide. The Latino Research Center is the only research center in the state focused on conducting research centered on the Latinx community.
The Director’s Message
I am honored to serve as the Director of the Latino Research Center and am excited about the chance to build upon the work of my predecessors while establishing a strong direction for those who will follow. My vision is for our Center to serve as a pillar of Latinx research so that our findings, discoveries, and innovations can lead to desired social and cultural impacts across our communities and beyond. We have a great team in place and a strong community, so I am fueled by the many opportunities at hand to support the four elements of our mission (i.e., research, faculty collaborations, student achievement, & advocacy and outreach) while serving as a nexus between the Latinx community and our University. I look forward to working with you, and I thank you for being a part of this transformative journey. ¡Adelante!
- Jafeth Sanchez, Latino Research Center Director
The Coordinator’s Message
It is an honor to be the Coordinator of the Latino Research Center and get the opportunity to conduct research and outreach for the Latinx community. My intention is to leverage my research and network skills to serve the Latinx community by leading practical research that can identify opportunities to support our students, faculty, and community members. I am excited to return to the Wolf Pack family and continue building faculty collaborations and community relationships to enhance the experiences of Latinx individuals both on and off campus. I look forward to working together and am ecstatic to bring new efforts to the center!
- Patricia Guerrero, Coordinator in Research, Education and Outreach
