In partnership with the Inter-University Program for Latino Research (IUPLR) and its City College of New York (CUNY) headquarters, the University of Nevada, Reno’s Latino Research Center is reviving the 7th Biennial Siglo XXI 2025 National Conference on October 16–17, 2025, as it has not taken place in nearly a decade. The conference will bring together academic scholars, leaders, students and all community members together to explore Latino/a experiences, identities, and contributions across the United States.

The national gathering will be held at the Joe Crowley Student Union. This year’s theme, Nuestra Presencia [Our Presence]: Affirming Identities and the Presence of People of Latino/a Ancestry across the U.S., honors the legacy of Gilberto Cárdenas, Ph.D., co-founder of IUPLR and a pioneer in Latino Studies.

A space for scholarship and community

Conference programming includes keynote speakers, scholarly panels, lectures, round tables, and poster sessions spanning topics such as education, health, the arts, migration, civic engagement, social justice and more. The event is designed to encourage dialogue across disciplines and to bridge research with community experience.

“The Siglo XXI conference is the leading forum in Latino Studies, but it is also much more than an academic event,” said Jafeth Sanchez, Latino Research Center director. “It is a space to affirm presence, identity and belonging while engaging the community in conversations that matter for Nevada and beyond.”

Open invitation to attend

While registration is required for scholars and professionals, University students and community members are encouraged to attend free of charge. Parking will be available in the West Stadium Parking Complex. Community attendees may request a parking code by emailing LatinoCenter@unr.edu.

Learn more

We invite you to see all sessions and conference content on the University Events Calendar website.