Joseph Spielberg Benitez (1936-2010)

Joseph Spielberg Benitez, who was instrumental in the development of JSRI and served as one of its first senior faculty associates, was appointed Acting Director of the Julian Samora Research Institute in 1993.

Dr. Benitez retired as professor of Anthropology at Michigan State University and published extensively on economic anthropology issues and on the social organization of Mexican American communities. He served as Chairman of the Governor's Agricultural Labor Commission and was a recipient of Fulbright-Hays Lecture/Research Fellowships to the University of Costa Rica and the University of Cusco in Peru. His field work was conducted in peasant and urban communities throughout Mexico and Guatemala.