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.

Andreas Hernandez, President
Arts and Sciences
Jessica Carey Webb, Vice President
Spanish and Portuguese
Margaret Jackson, Secretary
Art and Art History
Allison Borden, Representative
Educational Leadership
Sandro Espinosa y Mann, Representative
Student Organization for Latin American Studies
Paul Figueroa, Representative
School of Law
Susana Martinez Guillem, Representative
Communication and Journalism
Margie Montañez, Representative
Latin American Collections Curator
Douglas Thomas, Representative
International Management
Francisco Uviña, Representative
Community and Regional Planning
Kathryn McKnight, Ex Officio Member
Latin American Studies Program Director
Lenny Urena Valerio, Ex Officio Member
Latin American Program Development Associate Director
Frances Hayashida, Ex Officio Member
Latin American and Iberian Institute Director

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.

Kathryn McKnight, Representative
Latin American & Iberian Institute
Marsella Macias, Representative
Student Organization for Latin American Studies
Les Field, Representative
Anthropology
M'bewe Escobar, Representative
Department of Theatre and Dance
Miriam Gay-Antaki, Representative
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
Enrique Sanabria, Representative
Department of History
Jami Nelson Nuñez, Representative
Department of Political Science
Jose Luis Hurtado, Representative
Department of Music
Ray Hernandez Duran, Representative
Department of Art History

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
Loren Collingwood
Political Science
Kency Cornejo
Art History, Fine Arts
Kimberly Gauderman
History
Frances Hayashida, LAII Director, ex officio
Anthropology
Jennifer Moore
School of Law
Suzanne Oakdale
Anthropology
Neider Devia
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.

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. 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.

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
Jessica Carey-Webb, Representative
Spanish & Portuguese
Sylvia Johnson, Representative
Film & Digital Arts