Posted on September 15, 2025 by Amanda Cerreto
Kara Joyner, professor of demography and sociology in the UT San Antonio College for Health, Community and Policy, has been named the new director of the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research (IDSER).
Joyner has also been named a Distinguished Research Professor, an honor reserved for tenured faculty members recognized for outstanding achievements and distinguished reputations in their field. The recognition is typically reserved for national or international leaders, demonstrating significant contributions through research, scholarship or artistic performance.
Joyner succeeds Sociology and Demography Professor Lloyd Potter, who has served as Texas State Demographer since 2009.
The institute conducts multidisciplinary research on demographic changes, focusing on migration, population and urban/rural issues, and the team undertakes grant-supported research on population, transportation, education, health, housing and social services.
Housed within the institute is the Texas Demographic Center, which functions as a focal point for the distribution of census bureau data in the state.
Joyner began began her career at UT San Antonio in 2020, Previously, she was a professor at Bowling Green State University, serving as the associate director and acting director of a population infrastructure center funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Family and Demographic Research.
At UT San Antonio, Joyner has served as editor-in-chief for Population Research and Policy Review and President of the Southern Demographic Association.
Most recently, she served as the co-director of Bridge to Bold Futures, a four-week summer program designed to recruit and prepare first-generation undergraduate students for successfully completing bachelor’s degrees and pursuing research careers. Joyner founded the program to strengthen research and professional skills early in undergraduates’ course of study.
“I am excited to step into the role of Director of IDSER and lead a thriving population center that is unique with its emphasis on applied research that is both rigorous and innovative,” she said.
As the new director of the institute, Joyner said she hopes to expand partnerships with external agencies, convene population scientists from across UT San Antonio through various events, provide training opportunities for graduate students and support experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students.
IDSER already provides critical services to area businesses and agencies, such as population projections and community needs assessment. In a city growing as fast as San Antonio, the possibilities for partnership are limitless, she said.
“Students will be able to receive real-world experience working through the signature projects that I am planning with IDSER leadership and staff,” Joyner said. “It could be an invaluable start to their careers.”
To learn more about IDSER, visit their website.
— Amanda Cerreto
