Bárbara Reyes has been appointed director of the UNM Southwest Hispanic Research Institute (SHRI). Reyes, an associate professor of History, has research interests that include Chicano History, Southwest History, U.S. Immigration History, Gender and Comparative Women's History, Race, Ethnicity, Cultural Studies. For additional information about her research visit her faculty website.

Reyes has served as interim director of SHRI for the last two years. Earlier this year, the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) coordinated an internal, competitive search process with SHRI faculty affiliates. In consultation with the search committee and with feedback from SHRI stakeholders, Reyes was selected as director. She began her two-year term on July 1, 2016.

“I am happy that Dr. Reyes has accepted the position as Director of SHRI,” UNM Vice President for Research Gabriel López said. “She brings a wealth of experience and has successfully led SHRI over the last two years in an interim capacity. I look forward to working with her in the advancement of the research and scholarship of SHRI Faculty.”

Reyes received her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Communication, master's in Latin American Studies and Ph.D. degree in History from the University of California at San Diego. She joined the History Department at UNM in 2000, specializing in Chicana/o, Borderlands, and Immigration histories with a focus on race, gender, ethnicity and transnational studies. Her scholarly, professional and organizational work encompasses a wide range of organizations and committees.

She is the recipient of several awards and recognitions, including a Ford Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship, two awards from the UNM Feminist Research Institute: Susan Geiger Award and Faculty Research Award, and recognition from the UNM Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color (PNMGC). Reyes also brings extensive administrative experience, having previously served as acting director of the Center for the Southwest and Director of the Women Studies Program at UNM.

“I look forward to collaborating with all SHRI stakeholders to promote and support interdisciplinary Latino research,” said Reyes. “Working together we can create greater visibility for SHRI and UNM, as the Institute continues to sustain and expand Latino focused research regionally, nationally and internationally.”

Established in 1980, the Southwest Hispanic Research Institute (SHRI) promotes multidisciplinary research on the Latino/Hispanic populations of New Mexico and the United States. SHRI offers an intellectual home for its faculty associates and invites the Hispano and Mexicano communities in New Mexico to connect with the University