Governance

Following the long tradition of faculty co-governance at UNM, the LAII relies on broadly representative committees to guide its programs.

Five committees provide guidance: the Executive Committee, the Grants and Awards Committee, the Interdisciplinary Committee on Latin American Studies, the K-12 Teacher Advisory Committee, and the Operations Committee. Appointment processes vary by committee, as outlined in our governing documents:


Executive Committee

The Executive Committee consists of the president, vice-president, and secretary of the Faculty Concilium, six representatives elected by the Faculty Concilium, and a student member elected by SOLAS. All serve two-year terms, with the possibility of re-election. No more than four faculty members of the committee may be from any one college. Duties of the Executive Committee are to consult with and advise the LAII director regarding the mission, strategy, and priorities of the Institute, generate proposals for interdisciplinary research and outreach initiatives, and make decisions on major policy questions.

Paul Figueroa, President
UNM School of Law
Tobias Fischer, Vice President
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Jami Nelson Nuñez, Secretary
Political Science
Ray Hernández-Durán, Representative
College of Fine Arts
Carlos López-Leiva, Representative
Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies
Francisco Soto Mas, Representative
College of Population Health
Jennifer Tucker, Representative
School of Architecture and Planning
Margie Montañez, Representative
Latin American Collections Curator
Kathryn McKnight, Representative
Spanish & Portuguese
Margaret Jackson, Representative
Art and Art History
Leonel Martin, Representative
Student Organization for Latin American Studies

Grants & Awards Committee

The Grants and Awards Committee consists of one representative for each department or professional program that offers a graduate concentration on Latin America or that maintains a dual degree with Latin American Studies, and a student member elected by SOLAS. Graduate units are asked to select their representatives by faculty vote. Duties of the Grants and Awards Committee are to review proposals, applications and nominations for LAII Field Research Grant awards for graduate students and faculty, LAII PhD fellowships, and the Visiting Library Researcher program funded by the Greenleaf Visiting Scholar Fund. The committee oversees all award processes.

Frances Hayashida, Director
Latin American & Iberian Institute
Marsella Macias, Representative
Student Organization for Latin American Studies
Les Field, Representative
Anthropology
Joseph Cook, Representative
Biology
Claudia Pratesi, Representative
College of Population Health
Michael Lechuga, Representative
Communication and Journalism
Claudia Diaz Fuentes, Representative
Economics
Benjamin Warner, Representative
Geography and Environmental Studies
Elizabeth Hutchison, Representative
History
Armando Garza Ayala, Representative
Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies
Kathryn McKnight, Representative
Latin American Studies
Jose Luis Hurtado Ruelas, Representative
Music
Richard Wood, Representative
Sociology
Jessica Carey-Webb, Representative
Spanish & Portuguese
Alejandro Rodriguez, Representative
Theatre and Dance

Interdisciplinary Committee on Latin American Studies (ICLAS)

The Interdisciplinary Committee on Latin American Studies (ICLAS) is the faculty governance body of the LAS program. The committee is composed of 8 to 10 full-time faculty members appointed by the Dean of Arts and Sciences for two-year terms (which may be renewed). The Dean also appoints one graduate student representative who serves a one-year term (which may be renewed). The Associate Director of Academic Programs chairs the committee. The ICLAS Policy Manual provides more information on the structure, governance, and duties of the committee.

Kathryn McKnight, Chair
Latin American Studies
Doris Careaga
Chicana and Chicano Studies
Kency Cornejo
Art History, Fine Arts
Richard File-Muriel
Spanish & Portuguese
Kimberly Gauderman
History
Frances Hayashida, LAII Director, ex officio
Anthropology
Jennifer Moore
School of Law
Jami Nelson-Nuñez
Political Science
Suzanne Oakdale
Anthropology
Whitney Wagner
Student Organization for Latin American Studies

K-12 Teacher Advisory Committee

The LAII Teacher Advisory Committee is composed of New Mexico educators who serve the vital role of guiding LAII K-12 community education programs. Committee members assist the LAII by expressing classroom instructional needs; reviewing and evaluating existing LAII activities; and developing recommendations for enhancing and expanding resources. Given the LAII's collaboration with institutions across the country, the committee has the potential for national as well as local impact.

Marleen Linares-González, Chair
Latin American and Iberian Institute
Corina Fraire-Duran
Cochiti Elementary School
Kaycie Robinson
Atrisco Heritage Academy High School
Maria Sheldon
Ortiz Middle School
Candice Stanford
Eugene Field Elementary School

Operations Committee

The Operations Committee consists of six or more faculty members and one student member elected by SOLAS which elects its own chair. Members are chosen by the Executive Committee from a list of individuals who volunteer or are nominated to serve for a period of one year. The purpose of this committee is to facilitate community engagement in the area of Latin American Studies via the generous funding from the state of New Mexico. This committee receives and processes requests for funds for programs, public events, lectures, and conferences. It also solicits and reviews manuscripts submitted by graduate students and faculty for the LAII Research Paper Series. Service on this committee offers members the opportunity to make an impact for UNM in Latin American Studies scholarship and outreach, both nationally and internationally.

Rebecca Schreiber, Representative
American Studies
Mike Ryan, Representative
History
Gisselle Salgado, Representative
Student Organization for Latin American Studies
Doris Elena Careaga-Coleman, Representative
Chicana and Chicano Studies
Heather Edgar, Representative
Anthropology
Douglas Thomas, Representative
International Management
Miguel López, Representative
Spanish and Portuguese