The Race and Ethnic Studies Institute (RESI) was established to highlight Texas A&M University's strengths and academic leadership in research relating to the study of race and ethnicity and their various dimensions (e.g., intersections with class, gender, and sexuality; past, present, and future relevance to issues of education, immigration, politics, culture, and health). As a research entity, RESI seeks to encourage dialogue among diverse methodological approaches and theoretical perspectives, and strives to support an interdisciplinary community of social science and humanities scholars through workshops, working groups, and other events wherein faculty and graduate students might present works-in-progress. In so doing, we also seek to foster supportive mentoring relationships between graduate students and faculty who share an interest in these areas. In addition to offering financial support to predoctoral students and faculty at Texas A&M University, and interacting with both the national and international academic communities, RESI is committed to understanding the salience of race and ethnicity as organizing principles in human societies.