Dr. Linda Halgunseth continues as Chicano/Latino Studies Program Director

August 13, 2026

After a year serving as interim director of CLS, Dr. Linda Halgunseth has been named permanent director for the Chicano/Latino Studies Program, announced College of Social Science Dean Brent Donnellan. 

“This decision is based on her impressive work in the interim role including strong support of students, faculty, and staff affiliated with CLS. Dr. Halgunseth’s commitment to growing enrollments for all programs was another factor in this decision. During the search process, we received such strong support from the CLS community. Congratulations, Dr. Halgunseth!” Donnellan said. 

Dr. Halgunseth is an associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University.  Her research focuses on parenting and children’s health and well-being in African, European, and Latin American families. Dr. Halgunseth is Past Chair of the Latinx Caucus of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD).  She received the Early Career Award in Teaching Excellence from AAUP and the Early Career Award in Research from the SRCD Latinx Caucus.  She earned a BA in psychology and Spanish at the University of Texas at Austin, and a MS and PhD in human development and family studies from the University of Missouri.