Cuban-born Jorge Duany, who was raised in Puerto Rico and appears frequently in the pages of CubaNews, has joined Florida International University as the new director of FIU’s Cuban Research Institute.

Duany’s book, “Blurred Borders: Transnational Migration between the Hispanic Caribbean and the United States,” was reviewed last year by our correspondent Doreen Hemlock (see CubaNews, December 2011, page 15).

Duany — a passionate observer of Cuba and her people — has long struggled with answering the question: Where are you from? He sometimes just answers, “I’m Cuba Rican.” He became interested in the idea of migration, specifically Spanish Caribbean migration, during his time in Puerto Rico and has published extensively on that subject.

“I would like CRI to focus more on the Cuban-American community and the Cuban dia-spora in the 21st century,” Duany said. “I want to strengthen the CRI-faculty relationships, courses, fellowships and summer programs.”

Along with his appointment at CRI, Duany also will serve as an anthropology professor in the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies within FIU’s School of International and Public Affairs.

“Dr. Duany brings a unique perspective to our Cuban studies,” said John Stack, executive director of the School of Internatio-al and Public Affairs and associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “His passion for Cuba and her people will help invigorate thoughtful conversations about the role Cubans play internationally and about the future of Cuba itself.”

Prior to joining FIU, Duany served as acting dean of the UPR College of Social Sciences and professor of anthropology at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras.

He currently belongs to the editorial boards of academic journals including CENTRO: Journal of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Cuban Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Ethnic Studies, and Latino Studies.

Duany received his doctorate in Latin American studies, specializing in anthropology, from the University of California at Berkeley. He earned a master’s in social sciences from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s in psychology from Columbia University.

He served as director of the University of Puerto Rico’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and director of the journal Revista de Ciencias Sociales. He’s had visiting teaching and research appointments at several U.S. universities, including Harvard, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Florida, Michigan, Penn-sylvania and City University of New York.

Details: Cuban Research Institute, Modesto A. Maieique Campus, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199. Tel: (305) 348-2894. Fax: (305) 348-3593. Email: cri@fiu.edu.