Dr. Gabriel Sanchez is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of New Mexico. His fields of interest are racial and ethnic politics with a focus on Latino political behavior. His articles have been published in Political Research Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, Urban Affairs Review, PS: Political Science and Politics, and American Politics Research, and other peer reviewed journals.

As the Assistant Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at UNM, Dr. Sanchez is engaged in several research projects focused on Latino health policy.

Dr. Sanchez is also the Director of Research for Latino Decisions, the leading survey firm focused on the Latino population. A leading expert on Latino and New Mexico politics, Dr. Sanchez provides political commentary to several state, national, and international media outlets.

Awards and Grants

Dr. Sanchez has received several campus wide awards for his mentoring and service efforts, including the "Luminaria" UNM Presidential Award for Commitment to Diversity in 2010. Most recently, Dr. Sanchez was awarded the 'Best Article Published' in PRQ in 2011 at the Western Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Previously, Dr. Sanchez coauthored papers awarded 'Best Paper on Latino/Latino Politics' at the 2008 Western Political Science Association Annual Meeting, and 'Best Paper on State Politics and Policy' at the 2009 American Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Dr. Sanchez is currently engaged in a research project funded by the Russell Sage Foundation focused on the impact of the recent economic recession on foreign-born, Latino and African American populations of the United States.

A native New Mexican, Dr. Sanchez is a graduate of St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque.