University of Pittsburgh's CLAS Celebrates Six Decades of Latin American and Caribbean Scholarship
The University of Pittsburgh's Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) is marking its 60th anniversary, reflecting on six decades of fostering understanding and engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean. Established in 1964, CLAS has developed a model centered on interdisciplinary scholarship, language acquisition, research, and direct community involvement. This approach extends to diverse diasporic communities within the U.S. and abroad. A key initiative is the Undergraduate Seminar and Field Trip Program, which has sent over 600 students to 14 countries for fieldwork and direct engagement with local scholars and organizations. This year, students traveled to Costa Rica to research topics such as democratic effectiveness and healthcare access, with a future trip planned for Santarém, Brazil, to explore ties to the Amazon. CLAS boasts over 130 affiliated faculty across 25 departments and 11 professional schools, offering students pathways into the region through various academic fields. The center ...
