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.
- Judy Bieber, President
- Department of History
- Jessica Carey Webb, Vice President
- Department of Spanish and Portuguese
- Benjamin Warner, Secretary
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences
- Margaret Jackson, Representative
- Department of Art and Art History
- Margie Montañez, Representative
- Latin American Collections Curator | College of University Libraries and Learning Services
- Douglas Thomas, Representative
- Department of Management
- Francisco Uviña, Representative
- Architecture Department
- Francisco Soto Mas, Representative
- College of Population Health
- Richard File Muriel, Representative
- Department of Spanish and Portuguese
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
- Francisco Soto Mas, Representative
- College of Population Health
- Olga Perez Flora, Representative
- Department of Music
- Michael Trujillo, Representative
- Department of American Studies
- Les Field, Representative
- Department of Anthropology
- Garrett Delaván, Representative
- Department of Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies
- Chris Koops, Representative
- Department of Linguistics
- Mario Del Angel Guevara, Representative
- Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies
- Miriam Gay Antaki, Representative
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
- Judy Bieber, Representative (Fall 2025)
- Department of History
- Kim López, Representative
- Department of Spanish and Portuguese
- Luis Herran, Representative (Spring 2026)
- Department of 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
- Department of Political Science
- Marygold Walsh-Dilley
- Geography and Environmental Studies
- Kimberly Gauderman
- Department of History
- Frances Hayashida, LAII Director, Ex Officio
- Department of Anthropology
- Jennifer Moore
- School of Law
- Suzanne Oakdale
- Anthropology
- Lenny Ureña Valerio, Latin American Program Development Associate Director, Ex Officio
- Latin American and Iberian Institute
- Neider Andrey Devia Merchan
- Student Organization for Latin American Studies
- Armando Garza Ayala
- Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies
- Andrea Román Alfaro
- Sociology
- Kathryn Peters, Lecturer III
- 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
- Department of History
- Doris Elena Careaga-Coleman, Representative
- Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies
- Heather Edgar, Representative
- Department of Anthropology
- Douglas Thomas, Representative
- Anderson School of Management
- Miguel López, Representative
- Department of Spanish and Portuguese
- Alejandro Rodriguez, Representative
- Department of Theatre and Dance
- Sylvia Johnson, Representative
- Department of Film and Digital Arts
