News and Highlights
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CLAS PROVIDES UPWARD BOUND STUDENTS WITH TOP-NOTCH OPPORTUNITIES
May 16, 2013
This summer, the University of Miami's Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) continues to expand its commitment to STEM educational outreach with its Latin American and Caribbean Integrated Marine Program and College Training (IMPACT) and its Biomedicine Deliberative Citizens Debate (BioDECIDE) Initiatives. Through its partnerships with the Miami Science Museum, UM's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences (RSMAS), and UM's Miller School of Medicine, CLAS engages Miami Dade Upward Bound students in cutting edge field research and public health debates. The students are part of the Miami Science Museum's Upward Bound Math & Science program, which assists low-income, first-generation college bound youth prepare for postsecondary study. The IMPACT and BioDECIDE Initiatives demonstrate CLAS's dedication to K-12 outreach and to promoting area studies amongst students from traditionally underrepresented populations.
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CLAS PROMOTES HIV/AIDS AWARENESS IN LATIN AMERICA
May 15, 2013
As part of its ongoing commitment to K-12 STEM outreach initiatives, CLAS paired up with the Miami Science Museum and UM Medicine to present Public Health in Latin America and the Caribbean: Talk About Taboo! This presentation was geared specifically for Upward Bound students, offering science and mathematics educational outreach to first-generation college-bound scholars.
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South Florida Graduate Students Share Research at Latin American and Caribbean Studies Conference
May 2, 2013
UM's CLAS, Florida International University's Latin American and Caribbean Center, and Florida Atlantic University co-sponsored the 11th Annual South Florida Latin American and Caribbean Studies Graduate Student Conference held at UM. Each year graduate students from UM, FIU, and FAU coordinate the conference with the purpose of bringing together students with research interests relating to Latin American and the Caribbean. Professors lend their expertise in the field by reviewing paper submissions.
The title of this year's conference, "Visions of Latin America and the Caribbean: Engaging Interdisciplinary Angles," was inspired by the desire to create a space for students working across different disciplines to share their research and develop a promising community of scholars in the field. Five panels consisted of a range of topics including Afro-Caribbean cultures, social and identity issues in Latin American and Caribbean arts, and political participation.
The thought-provoking presentations were followed by a cocktail hour and an award for the four top papers of the conference. The winners were Hadassah St. Hubert, Salvador Raggio, Sara Gusky from UM and Betsaida Casanova from FAU. Congratulations!
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New Latin American Studies Social Club
April 25, 2013
"The mission of the Latin American Studies Social Club (LASSC) at the University of Miami is to bring together current graduate students, prospective students, alumni, and faculty in a casual setting to exchange ideas, share common interests, discuss potential projects, and talk about travel experiences -- all while having a terrific time. LASSC is a group for those interested in getting to know others who have selected to pursue Latin American Studies. The club is open to everyone, there are no fees to join, and is not in any way a classroom lesson (just a little extension of it). The club will gather at any place members desire to meet -from a private home to a bar, a beautiful on-campus courtyard to a lush city park. From time to time the LASSC will host special guests; maybe an esteemed faculty member, a recognizable artist, or a respected politician. Members of the club are highly encouraged to suggest events to organize, places to visit, people to meet, or any other potentially relevant activities. Like us on Facebook, follow us, tell your friends about us, and post pictures from your travels or our gatherings. Tell us about events that you'd want members to attend, and we will do the same. Join the club. Come have fun with LASSC."
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A Farewell to Marten Brienen, Director of Latin American Studies Degree Programs
April 23, 2013
It is with mixed emotions that we prepare to say goodbye to Marten Brienen, who has served as director of our degree programs for the last two academic years. We are sad that Marten is leaving, but happy for him, Rebecca and the girls as they move to new professional opportunities, new schools and new adventures in Oklahoma.
It has been a real pleasure to work with Marten. He has done a superb job. His first year was devoted to regularizing the operation of the academic programs, which included significant revisions to the requirements for the major, for the M.A., and since recently for the minor as well. Marten also worked on changing our procedures for advising and made it a point to keep very close track of our M.A. students to ensure that they finish according to schedule. While revisions to the Fellows in Latin American Studies (FILAS) Program remain to be made, the M.A. and undergraduate programs are now more coherent, and more attractive, and we are seeing not only a growth in the number of applicants to the M.A but also a significant jump in the quality of applicants. We are now competing with the very best programs in the nation.
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2013 "Beyond the Book" Awardees
April 22, 2013
The College of Arts and Sciences recently announced the recipients of “Beyond the Book” research grants, which enable outstanding undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences to pursue intensive learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting. These students will conduct primary research in the field, archives, laboratories, or other settings. We are delighted to note that three awardees working on topics related to Latin America and the Caribbean were chosen from this year’s strong pool of applicants, including one of our very own students. Selected projects with a focus on Latin America are...
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CLAS welcomes its Distinguished Fellows class of 2013-2014
April 9, 2013
The Center for Latin American Studies is pleased to announce the newest class of Distinguished Fellows, an interdisciplinary group of doctoral students whose research interests focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. The program, now in its third year, supports outstanding doctoral students from a range of disciplines in the College of Arts and Sciences. CLAS has been designated a National Resource Center for the study of Latin America and the Caribbean by the U.S. Department of Education. Engagement with the Center´s activities exposes fellows to a year of added value by participating in a wide range of initiatives that allows them to become familiar with current trends in these regions.
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During next Fall 2013 semester, a new and exciting course will be offered to the university community
April 2, 2013
Immigration Reform: The Debate
POL 491, LAS 491, INS 410, AMS 338
This course represents a unique experience that will include big-name guest speakers (members of Congress, former governors, public officials, media analysts, prominent activists, and others). It will be an interactive course taught by Professors A. Armony and J. Uscinski and two renowned professionals with extensive experience in US politics, F. Amandi and R. Fernandez. The course is conceived to encourage active student participation in class, through social media, and by doing exciting projects. We will examine the current debate on immigration including both documented and undocumented workers. We will explore different aspects of this issue, helping students understand the complexities of the national debate on immigration. The course will examine the impact of recent waves of immigration on U.S. society, market, workforce, education, media, culture, healthcare, and law enforcement. This is a course for students who want to understand how the phenomenon of immigration will shape their lives in the next decades. Readings will include both academic and news articles. There will be two examinations (a mid-term and a final) based on readings, course discussions, and guest lectures.
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Doing Business in Latin America and the Caribbean: CLAS and the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce Join Forces
April 1, 2013
The fruitful cultural, social, and commercial links between South Florida and Latin America and the Caribbean offer new and unprecedented opportunities for U.S. companies seeking to expand their business to Latin American and Caribbean markets. On March 27, 2013, Dr. Ariel Armony, Director of the Center for Latin American Studies, moderated an event on “Doing Business in Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges and Opportunities.” This was the second event organized by the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by the office of Government and Community Relations, University Advancement and External Affairs and with the support of the Center for Latin American Studies, as part of the 2013 “Seize the Moment” Series. The event was focused on providing the private sector with a forum to understand consumer markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, the region’s economic development, business culture and opportunities for investment. The Series is the result of a partnership with the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce spearheaded by Alejandra Collarte, University Advancement’s Director of International Relations, and the leader of the Latin America and Caribbean Initiative of the Chamber.
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Miami meets Cusco: UM students in the Peruvian Andes
March 5, 2013
Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, is hosting an interdisciplinary group of UM students during Spring 2013. The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) has partnered with Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL) to articulate a semester long study abroad in this Andean city. UCusco represents the efforts of CLAS to provide UM students with an increasing variety of study abroad options.
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Yo Decido: how did the Latino vote help decide the 2012 election?
February 7, 2013
On February 7th, the Center for Latin American Studies and the Office of the President were proud to host Fernand Amandi, managing partner at Bendixen and Amandi, for an exclusive inside view into the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election campaign. Telling the story of the Obama-Romney presidential election, Amandi tackled the question of how President Barack Obama was able to capitalize on the growing importance of the Hispanic vote in order to win the election by a margin of five million votes.
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Re-thinking the Colombian Conundrum: Talking Peace in a Changing landscape
Friday, February 15, 2013
The Miami Consortium for Latin American and Caribbean Studies will sponsor a conference entitled "Rethinking the Colombian Conundrum: Talking Peace in a Changing Landscape." The conference will consist of two roundtable discussions that will consider the current round of peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC armed insurgency within the context of recent Colombian history. The first of two round-table discussions will focus on "wider historical" questions including an analysis of the Colombian state, political party structure, and the history of economic development in that nation. The second roundtable discussion will look closely at recent developments including the role of illegal narcotics in oxygenating the current conflict, the role of the United States and an analysis of the half-century history of the FARC in Colombia. Author of the recent publication, Colombia: A Concise Contemporary, and distinguish University of Miami alumni, Michael J. LaRosa will present a brief account of the past twenty years from a socio-cultural and economic perspective.
Friday, February 15, 2013
1:30 – 7:00 pm
Newman Alumni Center
University of Miami
6200 San Amaro Drive
Coral Gables, FL 33146For a full agenda please click here
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CLAS Director to serve as judge for the 2012 UPS Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
November 5, 2012
The Center for Latin American Studies, through the participation of its Director, Ariel Armony, has been invited to serve on a panel of judges for the 2012 UPS Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. The award, launched in September 2012, will distribute US$50,000 among the three most innovative and successful small-and-medium size enterprises (SMEs) in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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CLAS ANNOUNCES WORKING GROUPS AWARDEES
October 30, 2012
The Center for Latin American Studies is pleased to announce the recipients for the 2012 Call for Working Groups on Latin America and the Caribbean. The Center extended an invitation for faculty and graduate students from all UM’s schools and colleges to submit proposals for interdisciplinary and methodologically diverse working groups with a thematic focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.
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CLAS partners with Educational and Psychological Studies and the Haiti Working Group to launch a series of educational workshops in Little Haiti
September 4, 2012
The Center for Latin American Studies in collaboration with the Department of Educational and Psychological Studies and the Haiti Working Group will be hosting a series of community workshops focused on enhancing the academic performance of Haitian and Haitian-American students in Miami.
Spearheaded by Dr. Kate Ramsey (History Department) and Dr. Marie Guerda Nicholas (School of Education), these weekend workshops aim to support the educational success of Haitian and Haitian American high school students by addressing the specific socio-cultural issues students face and establishing strategies through which they can improve their academic experience and performance en route to a university education. Using a ecological educational approach, students, parents, school educators and members from the broader Little Haiti community will be encouraged to partake in a series of hands-on activities and workshops that will focus on key topic such as the preparation for, application to, and financing of university study.
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CLAS SPONSORS UPWARD BOUND HEART SMART INTERNSHIPS
August 30, 2012
As part of its ongoing Public Health in Latin America STEM Initiative, CLAS has teamed up with the Miami Science Museum and UM Medicine to provide Upward Bound high school students with internships to support the “Heart Smart” English, Spanish and Haitian Creole traveling exhibition and research project at the Museum. The Upward Bound scholars, first-generation college-bound students, worked with museum staff, UM faculty, and graduate students to engage visitors on topics relating to heart health including nutrition, stress management, risk factors, and healthy behaviors.
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CLAS EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH TAKES TO THE SEA
August 29, 2012
This summer CLAS advanced its commitment to STEM educational outreach with its Latin American and Caribbean Integrated Marine Program and College Training (IMPACT) initiative. The partnership with the Miami Science Museum and UM’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences (RSMAS) engages Miami Dade Upward Bound students in cutting edge field research with UM faculty and graduate students. The students are part of the Miami Science Museum’s Upward Bound Math & Science program, which serves first-generation college bound youth from low-income families.
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CALL FOR WORKING GROUPS ON LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
August 27, 2012
The Center for Latin American Studies invites proposals for thematic working groups from faculty and graduate students from the University of Miami. The working groups are intended to be interdisciplinary and open to diverse methodological and theoretical approaches. Faculty and graduate students from all schools and colleges are encouraged to submit proposals.
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CLAS DIRECTOR ADDRESSES MIAMI-DADE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
August 2, 2012
At its August 2012 Board of Trustee Council Meeting, the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce featured the director of UM's Center for Latin American Studies as the keynote speaker. The event opened with remarks by Rudy Fernandez, Vice President of Government Affairs at UM, Ricardo Forbes and Bill Digs, Chairman and President of the Chamber, respectively.
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"MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN": FALL 2012 COLLOQUIUM
July 12, 2012
The Center for Latin American Studies is pleased to announce its upcoming colloquium on "Migration and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean," to be hosted monthly during the fall semester of 2012.
Following its call for abstracts, CLAS has accepted four proposals for presentations on current research by faculty from the University of Miami and Florida International University. The talks will be open to faculty and students from both institutions. However, due to the fact that space will be limited, registration is required. The objective of this colloquium is to create a forum to link researchers with interests in the varied dimensions of migration, immigrant communities, and development issues in both sending and receiving nations. The colloquium is intended to be interdisciplinary and open to diverse methodological and theoretical approaches.
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CLAS AND MDCPS EXPAND THEIR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS WITH SUMMER K-12 TEACHER TRAINING WORKSHOPS
July 2, 2012
Each year UM’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) utilizes its network of distinguished faculty and students along with its spirit of innovation and multidisciplinary expertise to engage thousands of South Florida community members in topics related to Latin America and the Caribbean. CLAS’ commitment to community engagement was bolstered this year with a new partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and a successful series of K-12 teacher training workshops.
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LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GENOMICS RESEARCH CONSORTIUM PARTNER IS CONFERED AS AN AMBASSADOR OF PEACE
May 17, 2012
Elena Záppoli, a close partner of the Latin American and Caribbean Neural Tube Defects (NTD) Consortium, a collaboration between the University of Miami’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) and the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics (HIHG), received the “Flag of Peace” and was named as an official ambassador of peace by the Foundation for Peace, Ecology & Art (Fundación Paz, Ecología & Arte), and the One Thousand Millenniums of Peace organization (Mil Milenios de Paz). Argentina’s largest Spina Bifida association, the Asociación para Espina Bífida e Hidrocefalia (APEBI), headed by Ms. Záppoli, also received the status of “Embassy of Peace” on May 4th, 2012. APEBI has been promoting advocacy efforts to prevent neurological pathologies since 1975 and connects UM’s NTD Consortium directly to ongoing efforts to prevent genetic disorders.
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CLAS-CHC HOST SUCCESSFUL UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS SYMPOSIUM, "CUBAN IDENTITY AND DIASPORA."
May 17, 2012
The symposium, organized by the Center for Latin American Studies and the Cuban Heritage Collection, and supported through a grant from the Goizueta Foundation, marked the culmination of the year long CLAS-CHC project "Faculty Grants in Support of Undergraduate Research at the Cuban Heritage Collection." This project enabled professors Christine Arce (Modern Languages) and Mia Leonin (English) to receive grants to revise courses incorporating a strong research component exploring the unique holdings at the CHC, containing primary and secondary sources documenting Cuba and its diaspora from colonial times to the present.
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CLAS announces the winners of the Graduate Field Research Grant competition
May 9, 2012
The Center for Latin American Studies is happy to announce the winners of its Graduate Field Research Grants competition. These awards support field work conducted by UM graduate students in the early stages of their research projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Designated as a National Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Education, CLAS supports scholarship from a range of disciplines that advance the study and understanding of these regions.
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CLAS welcomes Brazilian visiting scholars
May 9, 2012
CLAS is delighted to announce the arrival to the University of Miami of Carlos Gadea and Rafael da Silva Oliveira, two visiting scholars from Brazil, whose research stay in Miami is funded through prestigious awards from the Brazilian Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). The scholars' visit will enable them to further their research agendas, foster intellectual partnerships with UM faculty, and participate in CLAS initiatives, programs, and activities.
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And the Barrett Prize Goes to…
May 8, 2012
The Center for Latin American Studies is pleased to announce the winner of the 2011-12 Barrett Prize for the best dissertation in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Prize has been awarded to Jacqueline Grant (Department of History) for her dissertation, Public Performance: Free People of Color Fashioning Identities in Mid-Nineteenth-Century Cuba.
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ASIA AND LATIN AMERICA IN THE 21ST CENTURY HAS A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
April 24, 2012
UM's Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) marked a successful beginning to its "Asia and Latin America in the 21st Century" initiative by hosting over 200 participants at the 1st annual "Miami's Asia Summit," which took place on April 17th, and the academic workshop, "Asia and Latin America: Setting the Agenda," which took place on April 18th. The events are part of CLAS' strategic undertaking to set a framework for studying the interaction between Asia and Latin America in the coming decade.
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The South Florida Latin American and Caribbean Studies Graduate Student Conference announces competition winners
April 23, 2012
The Tenth Annual South Florida Latin American and Caribbean Studies Graduate Student Conference, "Selfhood, Statehood, and Interstate Cooperation Across the Americas," was held at Florida International University on April 19. The conference is an annual joint effort between the Latin American and Caribbean Studies centers of Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, and University of Miami.
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CLAS welcomes its Distinguished Fellows class of 2012-2013
April 13, 2012
The Center for Latin American Studies is happy to announce the new class of Distinguished Fellows, a diverse group of PhD students whose research interests focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. The program, now on its second year, supports outstanding doctoral students from a range of disciplines in the College of Arts and Sciences. CLAS has been designated a National Resource Center for the study of Latin America and the Caribbean by the U.S. Department of Education. Engagement with the Center´s activities exposes fellows to a year of added value by participating in a wide range of initiatives that allows them to become familiar with current trends in Latin American studies scholarship.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF HAITIAN CREOLE AT UM
April 6, 2012
This article was written by Jill Ulrich, a UM alumnus who completed her bachelor’s degree in 2011 in International Studies with minors in Microbiology and Chemistry. She is fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and German. Her interests include parasitology, environmental science, disease control and public health. She intends to pursue malaria research in Germany and to complete her Ph.D. in parasitology.
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HAITIAN CREOLE INSTRUCTION NOW AVAILABLE TO UM STUDENTS
April 6, 2012
With the Fall semester fast approaching, the amount of courses being offered may be overwhelming. The Center for Latin American studies, in partnership with the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures now offers Haitian Creole, a less commonly taught language that is increasingly important in South Florida and beyond. The initiative to fill this critical gap in Haitian Creole language came as a result of increased funding, provided by a Title VI grant, which named CLAS, in partnership with the Latin American and Caribbean Canter at FIU, a National Resource Center for the study of Latin America and the Caribbean. Haitian Creole instruction represents a closer connection to the Caribbean region and the Haitian community in South Florida.
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Latin American and Caribbean Genomics Research Consortium Marks Innovative Collaboration
April 4, 2012
An international team of clinicians, geneticists, social scientists, and community leaders led by the University of Miami's John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics (HIHG) and the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) officially launched the Latin American and Caribbean Neural Tube Defects (NTD) Consortium in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 10, 2012. The Consortium's mission is to unite professionals and civic society organizations to conduct research, educate, and exchange information to identify the genetic and environmental causes of Neural Tube Defects in Latin America and the Caribbean....
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CHANGING TIDES IN LATIN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
March 20, 2012
A conversation on the changes of U.S. - Latin American relations since 9/11 was the main focus of the recent discussion titled "The Evolution of US Foreign Policy in Latin America." Featured speakers included experts on the region such as Ricardo Luna, former Ambassador of Peru to the United States and to the United Kingdom; UM Professor Ambler Moss, former US Ambassador to Panama; Professor Michael Lenaghan from Miami Dade College and Carlos Barrezueta, Executive Director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Initiatives at Miami Dade College (CLACI).
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Panel Discusses Immigration on Election Year
March 1, 2012
A dialogue on immigration that focused on past policies and the role of this issue in the upcoming elections was the theme of the most recent talk sponsored by the Dunspaugh-Dalton Community & Educational Well-Being (CEW) Research Center at the School of Education and the Center for Latin American Studies. "Advancing the Conversation on Immigration @ UM" brought together five exceptional experts from diverse backgrounds in a panel that offered insightful and stimulating commentary on the current state of immigration in the United States with a focus on South Florida. Issues associated with federally sanctioned program "Secure Communities," racial profiling and the U.S. – Mexico border fence were discussed throughout the event.
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CLAS launches new governance structure
February 20, 2012
I am pleased to announce significant changes to the faculty governance of the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS). The new governance structure is the result of extensive conversations with the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, where CLAS is housed. The goal of these changes is to make the faculty advisory role more dynamic while guaranteeing broad representation both across the university and within the College of Arts and Sciences. The final objective is to forge strong links with the entire UM community and to engage in a two-way communication with faculty committed to the study of Latin America and the Caribbean.
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CLAS-CHC FACULTY GRANTS FUND UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AT THE CUBAN HERITAGE COLLECTION
February 18, 2012
The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) in collaboration with the Cuban Heritage Collection (CHC), and thanks to the support of the Goizueta Foundation, has awarded a new round of grants to faculty for the development and revision of undergraduate courses. These grants offer faculty members the opportunity to either revise or create new courses incorporating a strong research component exploring the unique holdings at the CHC, containing primary and secondary sources documenting Cuba and its diaspora from colonial times to the present. With the goal of exposing undergraduates to research training, the courses have a one-on-one mentorship component leading to a symposium where findings are presented.
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CLAS launches Miami Consortium partnership with UM's John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics
February 17, 2012
The Miami Consortium for Latin American and Caribbean Studies through the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) and the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics at the University of Miami are launching the first meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Neural Tube Defects (NTD) Clinical and Genomics Consortium.
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Panel discusses current Cuban issues
February 16, 2012
“Is Cuba in Transition?” was the guiding theme of a panel, organized by CLAS and the Miami Consortium in collaboration with the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Initiatives (CLACI) at Miami Dade College and the Miami International Press Association (MIPA) last January 31st. The panel convened experts and scholars such as Carlos Saladrigas of the Cuba Study Group; Marifeli Perez-Stable, Sociology Professor at Florida International University; David Adams, Editor of Poder Magazine; Carlos Barrezueta Executive Director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Initiatives at Miami Dade College and Ariel Armony, Director of UM’s Center for Latin American Studies.
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ICESI interviews Ariel Armony on the state of Sino-Latin American Relations
January 25, 2012
After participating in a workshop organized by ICESI, one of Colombia's leading private, non-profit universities, Ariel Armony was approached to provide a short interview. The workshop was part of an international dialogue, which focused on how to approach the study of Latin American relations with China. Ariel Armony provided some insights on how the rising importance of China in Latin America is impacting the international landscape as well as academic programs throughout the region.
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CLAS LAUNCHES THE LATIN AMERICAN LAW VISITING PROFESSOR LECTURE SERIES
January 20, 2012
Through the Miami Consortium for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, CLAS partners with the School of Law at the University of Miami and FIU to present a series of talks exploring the Law Profession in Latin America through a comparative perspective. The series “Latin American Law Visiting Professor Lecture Series,” brings influential scholar Dr. Rogelio Perez-Perdomo and will consist of four relevant talks ranging from topics such as judicial reform, the legal practice in Latin America, legal education and the role of legal scholars in current events. The series will take place simultaneously in the UM and FIU Law School campuses, via teleconferencing.
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CLAS´ AFFILIATED FACULTY TOURS MERCOSUR REGION
December 13, 2011
Professor Joaquín Roy, Director of the EU Center at the University of Miami and a CLAS-affiliated faculty member, recently returned from his first lecture and research tour of Latin America after receiving the Jean Monnet Chair "ad personam" award, an honor bestowed by the European Union for his dedication to teaching and research. Professor Roy traveled to Uruguay and Argentina to speak on the current Euro crisis and the crucial issue of E.U. relations with Latin America, specifically the MERCOSUR region. Lectures were given at a number of universities across Uruguay and Argentina as well as at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Buenos Aires.
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Congress honors CLAS contributor Alejandra Collarte with public service honor
November 5, 2011
In mid-September Congress kicked off celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month by awarding the prestigious Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition to Ms. Alejandra Collarte. The certificate, which recognizes outstanding public service to the community, is also a celebration of the contribution of Latin@s to the nation. UM's own Ms. Collarte, Director of International and Corporate Affairs at the Department of Information Technology and a frequent contributor to the Center for Latin American Studies, is a recipient of this exceptional honor. Bearing the signature of Senator Marco Rubio, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Congressmen Mario Diaz-Balart and David Rivera, the certificate is also a symbolic reminder of the importance of public service.
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UM's CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES AND F.I.N. SEA PARTNER FOR OCEAN KIDS 2011
November 4, 2011
As part of its ongoing outreach efforts, the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) is partnering with the F.I.N. SEA Foundation, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting the wonders of the ocean with experiential learning adventures to foster passion, curiosity, and confidence in the hearts and minds of at-risk children. This year CLAS is excited to work with this organization on its annual Ocean Kids program, a project designed to inspire low-income elementary school students in Miami-Dade County. Other supporters include UM's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences (RSMAS) and the Miami Seaquarium. The Ocean Kids program will take place on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the University of Miami Coral Gables campus.
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GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SELECTS UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI'S CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES AS FINALIST FOR ITS ANNUAL PHILANTHROPIC AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD
October 26, 2011
The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce released the finalists for its Annual Business Leadership Award, and has selected the Center for Latin American Studies as one of the finalists for the Philanthropic and Community Leadership Award. The winners will be announced at the 5th Annual International Business Leadership Awards, which recognize international businesses - whether for-profit or nonprofit, large or small - that significantly impact the economy of Florida. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place this Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at Jungle Island in a program that will begin at 11:30 a.m.
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New Partnership with Vanderbilt's Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP)
September 19, 2011
We are pleased to announce that a representative from the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) will be housed at the Center for Latin American Studies for the 2011-2012 academic year. This constitutes an important part of the University of Miami's increased collaboration with LAPOP. Based at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, LAPOP began in the 1970s to study expanding democratic values in Latin America. LAPOP's AmericasBarometer project now regularly conducts surveys on democratic public opinion and behavior. The only survey of its kind, AmericasBarometer spans 26 different countries in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean. The wealth of information gathered in these studies has been utilized by numerous academic researchers, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and by several Latin American governments.
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Journal of Democracy Publishes Article by CLAS Affiliated Faculty
September 8, 2011
Dr. Merike Blofield, Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science and Project Director for the Observatory on Inequality in Latin America housed by the Center for Latin American Studies, was recently approached by the Journal of Democracy to submit an article to be printed in its annual Spanish edition.
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Latin American Studies Degree Programs:
August 26, 2011
Letter from the New Interim Director
Dear Members of the Latin American Studies Community:
I am honored to have been offered the opportunity to serve the Latin American Studies program as interim director for the academic year of 2011-2012. In my new role, I will continue to teach for both the Latin American Studies program and the Africana Studies program as before, as well as advising our students in the MA, FILAS, and undergraduate programs, as well as tending to a host of other responsibilities that fall to the academic director....
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Directed Independent Language Study program (DILS)
August 23, 2011
Study Programs – Modern Nahuatl; Quichua
The Directed Independent Language Study program (DILS) will be offering programs in Modern Nahuatl and in Ecuadorian Quichua, beginning in the fall 2011 semester. The programs will focus on developing the students' communicative competence, with emphasis on speaking and oral comprehension. The programs will aim at promoting the students' ability to be effective communicators in Nahuatl and in Quichua, and will foster their adeptness to acquire cultural awareness of the respective regions, and sensitivity to aspects of the Nahuatl and the indigenous Ecuatorian civilizations.
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UM's Center for Latin American Studies puts Upward Bound students face to face with sharks in Miami's Biscayne Bay
August 18, 2011
The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) has worked closely with the Miami Science Museum and UM's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) to create a Latin American and Caribbean Module for Upward Bound's Integrated Marine Program and College Training (IMPACT) initiative.
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Center for Latin American Studies' Summer Outreach attracts hundreds of participants
August 17, 2011
UM’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) had an active summer outreach program that featured activities as diverse as the history of the Haitian Revolution, digital resources at the UM Cuban Heritage Collection, and China - Latin American relations.
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CLAS AFFILIATED FACULTY EARN PROMOTION AND TENURE AWARDS
May 24, 2011
CLAS would like to congratulate six of its affiliated faculty members who achieved promotion and tenure awards this Spring. As affiliated faculty, these professors spend a significant amount of their time studying and teaching Latin America and the Caribbean and it is due to such hard work and dedication that CLAS and area studies continue to grow and excel at UM.
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CLAS CELEBRATES 2011 LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES DEGREE GRADUATES
May 9, 2011
CLAS would like to congratulate the graduating class of 2011 Latin American Studies (LAS) Degree students and highlight some of their great achievements and future plans. Among the exceptional graduating LAS students this school year, we are pleased to have among our ranks Jorge Mulet, UM Robert Levine Outstanding Senior Award recipient, Jessica Macias, 2011 Teach for America core member, and Rachel Libby, Fulbright grant recipient.
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CLAS helps bring Haitian Creole to UM
May 9, 2011
The University of Miami's Center for Latin American Studies has contributed to bring an important component of the Caribbean to the University students as it partnered up with the Department of Modern Languages and Literature to offer a Haitian Creole class for the first time in UM's history.
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CLAS' Collaboration with the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) Grows as UM Gains Access to the AmericasBarometer
May 9, 2011
Over the past year CLAS and the Miami Consortium for Latin American and Caribbean Studies have been building their relationship with LAPOP. As part of this relationship, the Miami Consortium is pleased to be hosting the academic symposium "Discrimination, Gender, and Marginality in the Americas: Perspectives from the AmericasBarometer,” which will be part of the 2012 AmericasBarometer Start-Up Conference. The AmericasBarometer, under the direction of LAPOP, was established in 2004 and conducts surveys of democratic values and behaviors in the Americas. The database has become a valuable source of primary data for the region and its influence continues to grow.
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CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES AWARDS BARRETT PRIZE FOR BEST DISSERTATION
May 9, 2011
The Center for Latin American Studies has awarded the 2011 Barrett Prize to Dr. Khatchik DerGhoukassian for his dissertation, Illicit Associations in the Global Political Economy: Courtesan Politics, Arms Trafficking and International Security. The dissertation was supervised by Professor Bruce Bagley and the committee was comprised of Professors Felipe Agüero, William Smith, and Juan Gabriel Tokatlián.
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A Promising Summer for CLAS Grant Recipients
May 6, 2011
Casta Guillaume, Amelia Hintzen, and Teddy Allen have big plans for the summer of 2011. The three University of Miami’s graduate students have received field research grants from the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) to explore a diverse range of issues in the Caribbean from differing disciplinary and methodological perspectives.
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UM Students Present at the 9th Annual South Florida Latin American and Caribbean Studies Graduate Student Conference
April 25, 2011
The University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University, and Florida International University hosted the 9th Annual South Florida Latin American and Caribbean Studies Graduate Student Conference at FAU's Boca Raton campus on Thursday April 14th. The conference, with its central theme "Cultural Identities of the Americas in a Globalized World," attracted graduate students from all over the state and as far away as North Carolina to present research among their peers who have a common interest in Latin America and the Caribbean region. Planned and presented entirely by graduate students of South Florida Universities, the conference showcased 16 graduate students from subfields as varied as West Indian Education, Argentine-Jewish Religious Studies, and Social Justice in Colombia.
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CLAS Field Research Award Recipient Publishes Scholarly Article
April 20, 2011
The Center for Latin American Studies extends its congratulations to Paola Prado for having her article, "Lighting up the Dark: Telecenter Adoption in a Caribbean Agricultural Community," published in the latest issue of the Journal of Community Informatics. Paola's research for this article was funded by a field research grant awarded by CLAS as part of its program to support graduate students' research.
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Brazil: A Global Player?
March 24, 2011
The Miami Consortium for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, a partnership between the University of Miami’s Center for Latin American Studies and Florida International University’s Latin American and Caribbean Center, held the inaugural lecture of its Distinguished Speakers Series, “Brazil: A Global Player?” on March 24th at the University of Miami.
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Graduate Student Luncheon at CLAS
March 23, 2011
On March 23rd, Dr. Armony and the Center for Latin American Studies hosted a luncheon with UM graduate students whose work relates to Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss the role of the Center in their studies and research. The lunch brought together students from a wide range of disciplines: from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Engineering to the Schools of Communication, Education and Law. At the lunch, Dr. Armony asked the students to think of ways to connect their interests with the Center and its resources, and to explore new ideas to make the most of CLAS as a Title VI National Resource Center for Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Colombia Connections
March 10, 2011
Article excerpted from e-Veritas
University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala accepted the Colombian Congressional Medal of Honor on behalf of the institution during a March 1 ceremony at Constitution Hall in Bogotá. The ceremony was part of a recent three-day trip to Bogotá and Cartagena, Colombia, that was taken by a UM delegation of Shalala, top administrators, and scholars to help solidify existing partnerships with hospitals and teaching institutions in the South American country.
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UM's Center for Latin American Studies Recognized for Work on Haiti
March 7, 2011
The Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation made an award to the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) in recognition of the Center's ongoing efforts to contribute to Haiti's reconstruction.
A January 2010 earthquake resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread devastation. More than a million people were displaced. Since this tragedy, CLAS has called upon students, faculty and staff from a broad range of areas in the university to work together and create concrete projects to help rebuild and strengthen the country.
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UM and FIU Launch the Miami Consortium
February 16, 2011
The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) at the University of Miami and the Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC) at Florida International University officially launched the Miami Consortium on Tuesday, February 15 at Coral Gables Museum.
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UM’s Center for Latin American Studies hosted forum on future of Cultural Industries in Spanish
January 31, 2011
Miami, FL-January 31st, 2011- The University of Miami’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) co-sponsored the second edition of the “Foro de analistas y profesionales de España y los Estados Unidos” in Madrid this past December. The Forum was organized in collaboration with the Fundación Santillana, Fundación Alternativas, and the Queen Sofia’s National Museum of Art, along with the support of Spain’s Ministry of Culture, to discuss trends that shape Spanish-language audiovisual products.
Thirty professionals, including senior corporate executives, academics, researchers, experts and analysts, from the United States and Spain, participated in five panel sessions, short presentations, and open discussions. Two UM professors, Dr. George Yúdice and Dr. Lillian Manzor, delivered presentations.
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University of Miami Receives Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Grant to Develop Innovative Scholarly Resource on Cuban Theater
January 21, 2011
Article excerpted from e-Veritas
The University of Miami Libraries and the College of Arts and Sciences have received a $172,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to rebuild the technical and organizational infrastructure for the Cuban Theater Digital Archive (CTDA, scholar.library.miami.edu/archivoteatral), a unique digital collection of Cuban theater resources.
“The CTDA is a fantastic example of how the University of Miami Libraries support interdisciplinary scholarship using innovative new media,” said Dean and University Librarian William Walker. “We are grateful for the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s recognition of our commitment to this unique scholarly resource. We hope that our partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences will serve as a model for other creative digital humanities initiatives at the University of Miami and beyond.”
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