Latino Social Science Pipeline Initiative

Overview

The Latino Social Science Pipeline Initiative (LSSPI) is a new UC Berkeley program that seeks to advance Latino social science research, training, mentorship, and community engagement. The Initiative is spearheaded by professors Cristina MoraMichael Rodríguez-Muñiz, and Nicholas Vargas.

With support from the U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (CA) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-12) and critical partnership from UnidosUS, the country’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, Berkeley faculty secured funding from the Department of Education to address the need for more social science research on the history and current conditions of Latino populations. Working with UC Berkeley scholars, students, and staff, the Latino Social Science Pipeline Initiative contributes to training and developing the next generation of social scientists, data analysts, policymakers, and public intellectuals focused on Latino communities. In addition, it uses academic research to shed light on U.S. and transnational Latino communities in efforts to improve socioeconomic conditions and advance racial justice.

Over the next two years, the LSSPI will pursue its agenda through several initiatives, including postdoctoral and predoctoral fellowships, small research grants, and community-university partnerships.

Current News: 

Latinx Social Science Research Workshop Inaugural Session 2025 Spring Semester

The inaugural session for the 2025 Spring Semester's Latinx Social Science Research Workshop Series was held on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Latinx Research Center. 22 participants joined the session.

The workshop series creates mentorship links among faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. During the workshops, graduate students, postdocs, and faculty share research in progress and receive feedback from a community of engaged scholars in the Latino Social Sciences.

For more information about the workshop series and to RSVP for the next session, please contact luis.hernandez@berkeley.edu

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