Nuño-Perez brings a rare combination of over 10 years of analytical expertise in Latino political behavior as a scholar, as well as 8 years of experience writing for the premiere Latino-based media platform at NBC News.
Latino Decisions announced the addition of a new member of the firm’s expanding research and leadership team.
Dr. Stephen Nuño-Perez has been hired to serve as the Director of Communications and Senior Analyst for the firm, responsible for bringing his unique insight in strategic communications from within and outside of the company. Dr. Nuño-Perez comes at a valuable point in the expansion of Latino political clout in the Southwest and around the country.
A 12-year resident of Arizona and a native of Los Angeles, Dr. Nuño-Perez will serve as an important facilitator in the communication and connection between politicians, policy-makers, civic organizations, and corporations, seeking to serve a rapidly diversifying population. His expertise in media outreach, public opinion data analysis and Arizona politics will be great additions to the Latino Decisions team.
Latinos are the engine of Arizona’s economy. Latinos are a young population that makes up over a third of Arizona’s population, 45% of the city of Phoenix and more than half of our public school student population. They will soon be the engine of Arizona politics.
“I am overwhelmed with excitement about the future of Latino Decisions and their unique strategic placement in the market,” stated Dr. Nuño-Perez. “I am extremely proud of my work at NBCNews-Latino and the valuable experience it has given me about the positive influence the media can play on Latino lives. I plan to take that knowledge with me to Latino Decisions for the benefit of the community and the clients we serve.”
Dr. Nuño-Perez earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from UC Irvine and his BA in Political Science from UCLA. His research largely explores the relationship between Latinos and the American political system. He is currently Chair of the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Northern Arizona University as well as a tenured professor of political science.
Dr. Nuño-Perez’s academic work has focused on Latinx and LGBTQ political participation, the impact of voter IDs on minorities, and the influence of partisan outreach on Latino vote choice. He teaches courses on immigration, Latino politics, political participation, and research methods. He is also an affiliated faculty research scholar at Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.
Dr. Nuño-Perez brings almost eight years of experience writing for NBCNews-Latino, covering politics, immigration, political campaigns, and life stories of Latinos making their imprint on the American story. He has written over 200 articles for NBCNews since 2012, making him one of the most widely read Latino public voices in academia.
In his personal life, Dr. Nuño-Perez has four children and enjoys his free time hiking the majestic landscape of Northern Arizona, taking hot yoga classes, and baking his delicious sourdough bread for his neighbors and yogi friends. You can follow him on Twitter @SNunoPerez
