Eric Gonzalez Juenke has been named director of the Michigan State University Chicano/Latino Studies Program, in the College of Social Science.
Juenke is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science. Prior to joining the faculty at MSU, he worked at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He earned his doctorate from Texas A&M University.
Juenke’s appointment to the CLS program was effective Aug. 16.
“We are pleased to have Dr. Juenke in this leadership position,” said Rachel Croson, dean of the College of Social Science. “He has served in the program effectively over the past seven years, mentoring CLS graduate students and teaching CLS courses. Now, as director, he’ll play an integral role in continuing the development of CLS as a stimulating academic home for students across campus.”
CLS began in 1997 and offers courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. Students can obtain an undergraduate minor, a graduate certificate, and a doctorate in Chicano/Latino Studies. Course offerings include Race and Community, Ethnic Families in America, U.S. Latino Literature, History of Mexican Americans in the U.S., Latino Politics, Modern Mexico and many more.
“I am honored to have been chosen for this position,” Juenke said. “The faculty who work with the Chicano/Latino Studies Program are outstanding researchers and excellent teachers. This program offers many options at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and the CLS Ph.D. is unique in the Big Ten.”
Juenke’s own research has focused on Latino politics, U.S. electoral institutions, state and local elections, legislative and bureaucratic minority representation, minority politics, black politics and democratic theory. He is the fifth director in the program’s history following, most recently, Sheila Contreras and Joseph Guzman.
“I am very aware and appreciative of the great leadership this program has had with the previous directors,” Juenke said. “My hope is that we will be able to build on their efforts and expand the program by making more students aware of the benefits of this area of study and by continuing to build a strong team of faculty working together to support it.”