fall 2012

New CLAS Affiliated Faculty Michael LaRosa (Rhodes College) Michael J. LaRosa is associate professor of history at Rhodes College. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Miami where he studied with Peruvianist Steve Stein and late Brazilianist Robert M. Levine. LaRosa focuses on the history of contemporary Colombia; he has worked as visiting professor at several universities in Bogotá, twice under the auspices of the J. William Fulbright program. His most recent publication, a co-authored text with the Colombian historian German R. Mejía, is titled Colombia: A Concise Contemporary History (2012). ?? La Camioneta: The Journey of One American School Bus very day, dozens of decommissioned school buses leave the United States on a south- bound migration to Guatemala, where they are repaired, repainted, and resurrected as the brightly colored camionetas, which carry the majority of Guatemalans to work Eeach day. Yet since 2006, nearly one thousand camioneta drivers have been killed for either refusing or being unable to pay extortion money demanded by local gangs. La Camioneta: The Journey of One American School Bus goes beyond the violent head- lines of the news in Guatemala to track the migration of one school bus and understand the Michael LaRosa aspirations of five men as they struggle to understand the insecurity that surrounds them. The journey of the bus reveals the beauty and violence of everyday life in Guatemala and highlights the social and economic interconnectedness between the U.S and Latin America. Fulbright Recipient Richard Pace (MTSU) Conducts Mark Kendall (M.A. LAS 2009) is director, producer, and cinematographer of La Camio- Research in Amazonia neta. Kendall, a Student Academy Award-nominated filmmaker based in Brooklyn, studied anthropology and Latin American studies at Vanderbilt and then obtained an MFA in social CLAS affiliate faculty Richard Pace (Middle Tennessee State University) documentary film from the in New York. His first short film, The Time spent the 2011–2012 academic year Machine, was a National Finalist at the 2011 Student and was selected to on a Fulbright research and teaching participate in the Short Film Corner at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. grant at the Federal University of La Camioneta, Kendall’s first feature-length film, had its world premiere at the 2012 Pará in Belém, Brazil. In addition to SXSW Film Festival and won the NAHCC (Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) teaching a class on the anthropol- Award for Best Hispanic Filmmaker at the 2012 Nashville Film Festival. Recently, the film was ogy of media in the Programa de Pos-Graduação de Ciênças Sociais screened in the Summer Showcase at the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival. The film will screen (Graduate Program for the Social Sci- in the documentary competition at the Festival Internacional de Cine en Centroamerica ences), he conducted research on the (ICARO) in November. In spring 2013, CLAS will host Mark Kendall and offer screenings Belo Monte Dam and the emergent of La Camioneta for campus and community. Additionally, teacher workshops, panels, and socioeconomic and environmental screenings at area high schools are being planned as part of the center’s outreach programs. (continued on page 3) Find out more about the film online at lacamionetafilm.com. director’s corner: Edward F. Fischer

t is a pleasure to be back at CLAS and region, and committed to teaching others Vanderbilt after a productive year of sab- about this important part of the world. Your batical leave. We were extremely fortu- energy and enthusiasm motivates us to keep nate to have the leadership of Jane Landers doing what we are doing and to spread our CLAS I 230 Buttrick Hall in the center during my absence, and I am reach every wider. PMB 351806 grateful for all that she did last year. Behind Chancellor Zeppos has a vision of 2301 Vanderbilt Place the scenes, more work goes on here than creating “one university” at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN 37235-1806 Tel: 615-322-2527 you can probably imagine, and that is largely integrating in meaningful ways the many Fax: 615-322-2305 carried out by our Executive Director Avery varied colleges, schools, and programs. We Web: vanderbilt.edu/clas Dickins de Girón, our Outreach Coordina- at CLAS are committed to that vision, and Director: Edward F. Fischer tor Claire González, our Administrative indeed we are one of the very few, if not the Executive Director: Avery Dickins de Girón Assistant Alma Paz-Sanmiguel, and our only, program on campus that has active and Outreach Coordinator: Claire P. González Administrative Assistant: Associate Directors Helena Simonett and ongoing projects with every school and col- Alma Paz-Sanmiguel Frank Robinson. Without their hard work lege, from our home base in A&S to Peabody Associate Director, FLAS Coordinator and and dedication, none of what we do would and engineering, nursing and medicine, Certificate: Helena Simonett be possible. business and law. Our goal is to help spread Associate Director, Graduate and Under- Beyond our able staff, we are blessed Latin American studies and international graduate Advisor: Frank Robinson with an exceptional faculty. I have always engagement across campus, and we ask for LAS Bibliographer: Paula Covington felt that Latin American studies tends to your continued support in these efforts. National Advisory Board attract especially dedicated professors and Nora England, University of Texas at Austin students—committed to their fields of study, Edward F. Fischer Franklin Knight, Johns Hopkins University socially and politically committed to the Tom Reese, Tulane University Tom Trebat,

Steering Committee 2012–2013 Marshall Eakin (History) Earl Fitz (Spanish and Portuguese) University of São Paulo Visit Bill Fowler (Anthropology) Stephen Heyneman (Education) Highlights Brazil Week 2012 Mariano Sana (Sociology) Mavis Schorn (Nursing) rom September 4–7, 2012, Vanderbilt Liz Zechmeister (Political Science) welcomed faculty members from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) , the CLAS-Affiliated Faculty top-ranked university in Brazil and Latin Theron Corse, Tennessee State University F (History) America, to showcase the numerous research Larry Harrington, Chief Deputy, Attorney and other exchanges between the two institu- General, State of Tennessee tions. The visit was organized by Provost Michael LaRosa, Rhodes College (History) Jana Morgan, University of Tennessee McNamara and the Vanderbilt International (Political Science) Office (VIO) and included faculty from USP Stephen Morris, Middle Tennessee State in chemistry, art, history, and education. USP University (Political Science) Richard Pace, Middle Tennessee State representatives presented lectures, seminars, University (Anthropology) and workshops for Vanderbilt students and Gerald Reed, Tennessee Department faculty gathered on several occasions with of State Christoph Rosenmuller, Tennessee State USP partners to exchange information on opportunities for exchange available at both University (History) universities. USP and Vanderbilt colleagues enjoyed a photography exhibit, studio art visits, and history seminars, given in Portuguese and English. These events provided Vanderbilt “Vanderbilt” and the Vanderbilt logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Vanderbilt University. faculty and students with a greater breadth of knowledge on Brazil. Since the week coincided Produced by Vanderbilt University Creative Services with Brazilian Independence Day on September 7, it was declared Brazil Week, and many in and Vanderbilt Printing Services, 2012. the university community came together for cultural activities organized by CLAS, including Printed on paper with 30 percent post-consumer recycled content with ink made from renewable a night of poetry, a capoeira demonstration, and a futebol tournament. On Friday, September resources, as part of the university’s commitment to environmental stewardship and natural resource 7, Serenatta performed an evening of music at Scarritt Bennett in celebration of Brazilian protection. This publication is recyclable. Please independence. After the meetings, many of the visitors traveled to Champaign-Urbana to recycle it. attend the Brazilian Studies Association (BRASA) XI Conference (September 6–8).

2 The Center for Latin American Studies (continued from page 1) 2012 Elections in Latin America impacts upon downstream com- n July 1, 2012, over 49 million In the background of all of these political munities, as well as documenting the aesthetics of Kayapó filmmaking (in Mexicans (an overall 62% voter happenings is the ongoing drug war. Many conjunction with Glenn Shepard of turnout) went to the polls to elect think that Peña Nieto may take a less the Goeldi Museum). For spring 2013, Oa president, 128 senators, 500 deputies, six confrontational approach with the drug side he has been awarded an $104,000 governors, and the mayor of Mexico City. of drug trafficking but perhaps exert a more NSF grant (with co-PI Conrad Kottak) The former governor of Mexico, Enrique concerted effort to reduce the kidnapping, to return to Brazil to study the evolv- Peña Nieto from the Partido Revolucionario extortion, and other ‘side businesses’ of some ing influence of media (television, Internet, cell phones, DVDs) upon five Institucional (PRI), was the clear leader in of the cartels. rural communities (Turedjam of the the presidential race, and he won the election The election was also important because Kayapó Indigenous Lands, Gurupá in with roughly 38% of the vote. Runner-up it marked the first time that a female the Amazon, Arembepe on the coast Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Partido candidate from a national party ran for of Bahia, Cunha in the interior of São de la Revolución Democrática (PRD) received president in Mexico. Vázquez Mota, 51, is Paulo, and Ibirama in the southern state of Santa Catarina). Vanderbilt 31% of the vote, while Josefina Vázquez Mota an economist who also most recently served anthropology doctoral candidate of the Partido Acción Nacional (PAN) came as secretary of education under President Monte Hendrickson will participate in in third place with 23% of the vote. Felipe Calderón. She got her start in politics this research, studying the impact of Peña Nieto’s victory is particularly in Ciudad Juárez as federal representative media in Gurupá. significant as it marks the PRI’s return to for a cluster of northern Mexican states. power after a 12-year hiatus in its historic Despite her poor showing in this election, Primeros Pasos 70-year control of the country. Peña Nieto Hiskey thinks that another woman run- In March 2012, Vanderbilt’s Manna stu- insists that the party has changed its ways ning for office at the national level is likely. dent chapter sent a team to Primeros and promises a new approach in the drug The legislature is 25% women and 40% of a Pasos, a nonprofit, independent orga- war, though there are doubts as to whether party’s candidates must be women. There nization with a comprehensive outlook the PRI has reformed since pressures from are, however, few female mayors in Mexico, on health care, which offers quality entrenched state-level PRI machines will be which might belie some remaining political and affordable care as well as health education to the rural, underserved hard to resist. However, much has changed and cultural issues in Mexico. Despite this communities of the Palajunoj Valley in Mexico within the last twelve years: dearth of leadership at the local level, there of Quetzaltenango. Eight students there is a more active press, the legislature are opportunities at significant levels for who all spoke intermediate-advanced has become more powerful, and there is a women to gain leadership experience to Spanish came to give reproductive greater emphasis on government transpar- position themselves for higher office. health classes in the secondary school in Llano del Pinal. They taught Monday– ency, especially regarding social spending Scholars at Vanderbilt have been looking Thursday to all four sections of Primero and public services. at the 2012 elections for quite some time. Básico. This group made a $1,000 Professor Jonathan Hiskey, associate On March 27, 2012, CLAS hosted a “Vote donation to the clinic. professor of political science at Vanderbilt, 2012” panel on the Mexican elections along views the PRI’s victory as a rejection of the with LAPOP, the Department of Political PAN’s leadership rather than an indication Science, and Women’s and Gender Studies of Peña Nieto’s strength. For Hiskey, the at Vanderbilt. Sergio Sanmiguel- Gastelum, fact that Peña Nieto won by a small margin a private consultant and former official in suggests that there remains a lot of skepticism Mexico’s Federal Electoral Institute (IFE), regarding the PRI’s return to power, and that was invited to participate in the discussion the PRI’s main objective will be to avoiding with Prof. Eddie Wright-Rios of the Depart- repeating the mistakes of the PAN. However, ment of History and Prof. Liz Zechmeister the PRD and the PAN will remain important of the Department of Political Science. The forces in the legislature and will be waiting for discussions focused on the strengths and the PRI to make mistakes in the next six years weaknesses of the three frontrunners. in order to better position their national can- This year has been an active one for didates for the next election cycle. Many feel elections in Latin America. Voters went to the that the only way to oust the PRI from power polls in May in the Dominican Republic and is when the PRD and the PAN work together. elected Danilo Medina as president. In Octo- If the PRI remains as the new and improved ber, voters will go to the polls in Venezuela to Democratic Party, then they are more likely to decide whether Hugo Chávez will continue win in a three-way race. as in office or if the challenger, Henrique Capriles, will assume the presidency. www.vanderbilt.edu/clas 3 Faculty News Beth Conklin (Department of Anthropology) is president of SALSA, the Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America. SALSA’s next international conference will meet at Vanderbilt March 7–10, 2013. Paula Covington (Latin American Studies) attended the annual conference of the Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials hosted by the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago in June and presented a paper entitled “Afro-Caribbean Voices: Oral History Projects at Vanderbilt.” The talk discussed two digital collections at Vanderbilt, “Who Speaks for the Negro?” and “Voices from Our America,” and the Colombian oral his- tory project that is part of the Manuel Zapata Olivella Collection. Covington also made a trip to the Yucatan and Oaxaca in April to collect Maya resources published in these regions. Elizabeth Heitman (Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society) was keynote speaker in an August 1 MANI+ symposium in Costa Rica entitled ast summer, Vanderbilt students “Developing a Culture of Respon- combined their research and desire to sible Conduct in Research.” The symposium was supported by the serve by being part of the MANI+ Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, Lproject in Guatemala. The project, which Centro de Desarollo Estrategico e seeks to combat severe malnutrition in Gua- Informacion en Salud y Seguridad temala and aid small farmers, was founded (CENDISSS) and was sponsored by in 2008 by CLAS Director Ted Fischer. ?? an NIH grant to University of Miami Fogarty International Center which is Several teams of Project Pyramid students intended to support ethics programs. from Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Business Maní+ targets children from 6 to 24 Management, led by Bart Victor, helped months; it is a paste that is taken once a Earl Fitz (Department of Spanish and Portuguese) was recently named to develop the business plan, Sarah Roper (A&S day for 18 months. Maní+ also works with the Distinguished Alumni Board of 2012) and other MHS VISAGE students peanut farmers to improve the quality of the University of Iowa Department of have helped develop implementation plans. their crop, which increases the crop’s market Spanish and Portuguese. Professor Hudson Baird (A&S 2010), Thomas Davis value. Furthermore, Maní+ adds an educa- Fitz also delivered a series of invited (Engineering 2010), Jillian Currie (Peabody tional component to its outreach by provid- lectures on inter-American literature, and on comparative approaches to 2012), and Robert Tauscher (currently a ing workshops for mothers that emphasizes Latin American and Iberian literature, senior in A&S), and the Institute of Global proper nutrition. For the future, Maní+ at , Northwestern Health have worked on a nutritional formu- hopes to research and develop new products University, the University of Alberta, lation and educational plan. that will fit into local contexts and tastes, the University of Mary Washington, Tauscher says that “spending this summer such as a nutritional bar and a cookie aimed and the Americas Society in New working with Maní+ in Guatemala, I had the at pregnant and lactating mothers. York City. chance to work on issues of health, develop- Over 49% of Guatemalan children under Cathy L. Jrade (Department of ment, and economics with a dedicated team the age of five suffer from chronic malnutri- Spanish and Portuguese) recently of nutritionists and social entrepreneurs. We tion—the worst rate in Latin America and published the book, Delmira Agustini, Sexual Seduction, and Vampiric Con- researched the formula, made trial batches, the fourth worst rate in the world. Chronic quest ( Press). Delmira presented to potential investors, and worked malnutrition has devastating effects on these Agustini (1886–1914) has been with local farmers. I hope to return to children, resulting in stunted growth, cogni- acclaimed as one of the foremost Guatemala soon to continue helping the tive impairment, and reduced earnings and modernistas and the first Maní+ project.” productivity in adulthood.

4 The Center for Latin American Studies Vanderbilt Receives Three Brazilian University Students through Brazil’s New Science Without Borders Program, Humphrey and Fulbright Scholars to Peabody he Brazilian government’s new Science Without Borders CAPES Students at Vanderbilt this fall are Emerson Lua (Uni- Program will provide scholarships to undergraduate versidade Federal da Bahia), Larissa Cykman (Universidade students from Brazil for one year of study at colleges Federal de Rio Grande do Sul), and Sandro Freitas (Universidade Tand universities in the United States. Scholarships will be given Federal de Pernambuco). primarily to students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Guilherme Bueno de Camargo, of Brazil, is a Humphrey Fel- Mathematics (STEM) fields. Students in the program will return low at Peabody this year. While at Vanderbilt, he plans to inves- to Brazil to complete their degrees. This program, administered tigate charter school structures and public-private partnerships by the Institute for International Education, is part of the Brazil- in the United States in order to apply a similar framework when ian government’s larger initiative to grant 100,000 scholarships he returns to Brazil. Bueno de Camargo is a public attorney for for the best students from Brazil to study abroad at the world’s the City Hall of São Paulo and former deputy secretary of educa- best universities. This year, Vanderbilt will host three students in tion of the State of São Paulo. His focus is on public education the new program: Elomar de Franca Costa e Souza (Engineering), management in Brazil, specifically utilizing decentralization to Clarissa Borges (A&S), and Ramon Dias Ferreira (A&S). improve academic outcomes and tertiary access for all students. With agreement from several departments on campus, Camila Lawson Scheifer, a doctoral student in applied lin- Vanderbilt agreed to participate as a host institution for guistics from Campinas State University (UNICAMP) is visiting three scholarship recipients for the 2012–13 school year. Like Peabody College in 2012–13 as a Fulbright Scholar. Her research exchange students, the scholarship recipients from the program focuses on studying the literacy practices of fifth grade students will receive support from the Global Education Office upon in transit through digital and physical environments. She is arrival, and will live in the dorms among other Vanderbilt especially interested in mapping the circulation of texts, bodies, students. Participation in the Science Without Borders under- and discourses across different spaces in order to understand graduate program is an excellent addition to our other activities meaning-making processes and identify in-between zones that with Brazil, including our ongoing relationship with CAPES are potentially meaningful for education. At Vanderbilt, she is exchange programs for graduate students—now more than 10 studying with Dr. Kevin Leander and his research group to learn years old—as well as hosting visiting scholars from Brazil, also more about the spatial perspectives for studying literacy. Brazil- supported by CNPq. ian applied linguistics has just very recently started to problema- Candidates must first be nominated by their Brazilian tize space-time relations as a legitimate category of analysis for university and approved by CAPES (Coordenação de Aper- understanding social practices. feiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico) to par- ticipate in the Brazil Science Without Borders Program. CAPES Ch’orti’ Language Group is the department within the Brazilian Ministry of Education devoted to the evaluation and expansion of higher education Graduate students and faculty from the Department of Anthropol- in Brazil. Many of the projects financed by CAPES provide ogy organized a semi-weekly interest group to learn the Mayan language Ch’orti’ under the instruction of Dr. Danny Law, post- opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to gain doctoral scholar in anthropology. Participants in the study group hands-on experience. Their programs range from studies in the met informally on a semi-weekly basis during fall 2011 and spring Amazon to nanotechnology development. CNPq is the depart- 2012. The Ch’orti’ language, spoken by around 10,000 people ment within the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology in the eastern Guatemalan towns of Jocotan and Camotan, is devoted to the advancement of scientific research and technol- believed by many to be directly descended from the language ogy and to the development of scientific research-related human recorded in thousands of ancient hieroglyphic inscriptions from the first millennium A.D. The group will resume meetings in fall resources. CNPq operates many programs that focus on national 2012. Anyone interested in learning more about Ch’orti’ Mayan or environmental issues as well as transnational research projects participating in the interest group, please contact Danny Law at in the genetics and biotechnology fields. [email protected] Vanderbilt has an ongoing relationship with CAPES, which is now more than 10 years old. CAPES is a governmental foundation affiliated to the Ministry of Education in Brazil, that supports and sponsors research initiatives and the scientific development of Brazilian researchers and professors. Vanderbilt has hosted several scholars from Brazil supported by CNPq. www.vanderbilt.edu/clas 5 Faculty News cont. major woman poet of twentieth- CLAS Summer Awards Programs century Spanish America. In addition, LAS administers several summer Daniel Zizumbo Colunga, a fourth-year Ph.D. Dr. Jrade also co-hosted the Associa- student in political science, traveled to Cherán, awards available to both graduate tion of Departments of English and Mexico, for a month of exploratory research to the Association of Departments of and undergraduate students pursu- find out why citizens sometimes take the law Foreign Languages meetings here in Cing research projects in Latin America. The into their own hands. Daniel conducted inter- Nashville with Marc Schoenfield. Dr. call for applications is posted on the CLAS views with locals as well as outside researchers Jrade’s entry on “Modernismo” in the website (vanderbilt.edu/clas) each December to gain more in-depth knowledge of vigilante justice in the region. Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and and applications are due in early February. Poetics, 4th edition, just appeared. Jane Landers (Department of Latin American Studies Simon Collier Travel Awards History) presented at the National Field Research Grants A historian of Chile with an expertise in Underground Railroad Conference, Argentine tango, Simon Collier served as a held in St. Augustine, Florida, from Awards are for approximately $2,000 each June 20–24, 2012. Landers has and are intended primarily to support travel former director of Vanderbilt CLAS and was also been appointed vice president/ expenses related to field research for indi- chair of the Department of History. Simon president elect for the Council on viduals conducting pre-dissertation research Collier Travel Awards fund student research Latin American History (CLAH) for in Latin America during the summer of in Chile and Argentina, as well as other 2013–2015. She assumes the office projects on cultural arts elsewhere in Latin at the CLAH conference in New 2013. Any Vanderbilt graduate student in America. Ranging from $500 to $2,000, these Orleans in January 2013. the College of Arts and Science with Latin American-related interests is eligible to awards are available to both undergraduate William Luis (Department of and graduate students enrolled at Vanderbilt. Spanish) is one of the 181 recipients apply, although preference will be given Santiago Quintero, a former Ph.D. student in in the United States and Canada of to doctoral students. The award is NOT Spanish and Portuguese, visited Buenos Aires, a fellowship from the John Simon intended for advanced dissertation research, Argentina, and consulted materials in the Bib- Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. but rather to support initial hands-on field lioteca Nacional de Buenos Aires. His research He will use his Guggenheim funding research and the development of indepen- centered around the 1950s Argentine publica- to write the definitive book on the dent research projects. tions of Más Allá and Hora Cero and the theme life and works of the Cuban slave of science fiction as related to the United States poet Juan Francisco Manzano, who Carmelina Espantzay Serech, a second-year and the political, ideological, and cultural tensions was the only slave in Latin America Ph.D. student in anthropology, completed of the Cold War. to author his autobiography at a time research on female Mayan candidates in the when slaves were not allowed a Guatemalan elections of 2011. Her work focused Benjamin McCormick, a medical student, formal education. on the emergence of ethnic diversity in the politi- received Simon Collier support for Argentine- cal realm and its relation to gender. based research on the relationship between inter- Paul B. Miller (Department of French feron levels and severity of respiratory disease. and Italian) has recently published Felipe A. Girón P., a third-year Ph.D. student in During his time abroad, he was able to collect his article titled “‘Bendito sea A. que cultural anthropology, continued his field research medical samples directly from pediatric patients no me hizo indio ni negro’: Ethnic on political violence in Guatemala in the 1960s. in hospitals throughout Buenos Aires and use this Paradigms in Menasseh Ben Israel’s Felipe spent a summer in Zapaca, Guatemala, data as the basis for his theoretical work. Esperança de Israel” in Bulletin of conducting archive and ethnographic research to Hispanic Studies—Journal Issue better understand daily life during that time period. Volume 89, Number 5 / 2012. Carla Cecilia Hernández Garavito, a second- Foreign Language and Frank Robinson (Department of year Ph.D. student in anthropology, traveled to Area Studies Fellowships (FLAS) History, Latin American Studies) has Huarochiri, Peru, to research Inka and Spanish The Center for Latin American Studies at colonial processes from the perspective of a been elected president of SECOLAS Vanderbilt University has been awarded small highland Andean community. Carla cross- (Southeastern Conference on Latin funding from the Department of Education American Studies). referenced archaeological data and early Spanish documents with current cultural aspects of the to support FLAS (Foreign Language Area Tiffiny Tung (Department of Anthro- community to support her work. Studies) Awards for intensive studies of pology) had her book, Violence, Portuguese or Latin American indigenous Ritual, and the Wari Empire: A Social Lillian Tatiana Paz Lemus, a third-year Ph.D. Bioarchaeology of Imperialism in the student in anthropology, spent the summer of languages in the summer of 2013. Any Ancient Andes, published in February 2012 conducting in-depth field work in Tactic, Alta graduate or undergraduate student with of 2012 by the University Press of Verapaz, Guatemala. Her work centered around Luso-Brazilian or indigenous language- Florida. the Guatemalan school systems and how the related interests and who is a U.S. citizen or official educational policies affect the resources available on a local level. permanent U.S. resident is eligible to apply.

6 The Center for Latin American Studies New Faculty Jose Cárdenas- This past summer seven highly quali- environmental policy by attending of the Rio+20 Bunsen (Department conference. fied individuals were given the opportunity of Spanish and Portuguese) received to improve their language skills through Micah Oelze, a Ph.D. candidate in history at Florida International University, attended the his Ph.D. from Yale six-week intensive language programs. summer intensive in São Paulo. Micah used his University and spe- Through the FLAS awards, students were time in Brazil to explore the archives of Rio, Sao cializes in teaching able to study K’iche’ Maya in Guatemala and Paulo, and Salvador, laying the groundwork for Spanish American lit- Portuguese in Brazil, with one program in his dissertation. Highlights of the program include erature with special emphasis on the colonial period. His research focuses Rio de Janeiro and another in Sao Paulo. The reading Brazilian works of literature in class with on the legal thinking of Bartolomé de K’iche’ Maya course was based in Nahualá, Professor Christopher Dunn of Tulane and having discussions with his host family on a daily basis. las Casas in relation to the historical Guatemala, a city in the Western highlands and ethnographic writings of Indian of the country. Daniel Genkins saw incredible improvement in and mestizo authors. his Portuguese language skills over the six weeks Sarah Foss traveled to Nahualá, Guatemala he spent in São Paulo. Daniel notes that the Ruth Hill (Depart- to participate in the K’iche’ Maya course. Her cultural component of the program truly allowed ment of Spanish and use of the language in local contexts allowed for an easy and flexible learning experience. As Portuguese) received her to internalize the grammar she learned in a history student at Vanderbilt, Daniel was able her M.A. and Ph.D. class. Through independent excursions into the to more fully explore his discipline through the from the University Guatemalan Highlands, she explored the various program’s collaboration with American historian of Michigan and regional dialects and expanded her knowledge of Jeffrey Lesser. comes to Vanderbilt the area’s geographical features. from the University Laura Brown’s time in São Paulo proved an Katie Angell, a Latin American studies student of . Her excellent opportunity for preliminary research here at Vanderbilt, furthered her understanding research interests include colonial on her paper relating to the spatializaion and of K’iche’ Maya through educational and cultural and nineteenth century Latin Ameri- racialization of the Brazilian version of Sesame exchanges in the summer program in Nahualá. can history and literature, critical race Street, Vila Sésamo. She also found some stellar Katie credits her homestay and daily interactions studies (caste systems, folk biology resources for a future project on the Brazilian with her “family” for the impressive gains in her and human diversity, eugenics), early circus that is part of her work, “The Farce of language skills. modern Brazil and Portugal, Hemi- Foundation and the Foundational Farce.” For her, spheric American studies, Atlantic Ana Hildalgo (need affiliation) participated in the Portuguese program and the skills she gained studies, baroque and neobaroque, the Yucatec Maya Language Summer Program will prove invaluable components of her future enlightenments and modernities, in Xocen, Mexico. Ana made substantial gains in language studies and research. rhetoric and poetics, and early both her grammatical and conversational abilities. Rebecca Keng found the São Paulo program modern science and philosophy (in She plans to use her newly developed skills as to be a wonderful vehicle not only for improv- Italy, Spain, Portugal, England, France, she researches midwives in the Yucatec area. ing Portuguese language skills, but also for and Spanish America). Christine Vidmar, of Georgetown University, understanding immigrant populations and culture Dominique was the recipient of a FLAS fellowship that sent in Brazil. The city, which can be intimidating, Béhague (Medicine, her to study Portuguese and Brazilian culture in proved itself a dynamic host, offering countless Health and Society) Rio de Janeiro. The daily intensive coursework in opportunities for cultural immersion and practical joins MHS after language and culture provided her with the tools language studies. teaching at the needed to engage in practical research on Brazil’s London School of Hygiene and Tropical Coming Up at CLAS Spring 2013 Medicine and in the Anthropology Depart- January 30–February 1 March ment at Brunel University. Professor Screening and Teacher Workshop on La ENGOV Conference: Environmental Governance Béhague received her M.A. in social Camioneta: The Journey of One American in Latin America and the Caribbean: Developing anthropology from Bryn Mawr Col- School Bus • VU Campus Frameworks for Sustainable and Equitable lege and her Ph.D. in anthropology Natural Resource Use • www.engov.eu/en and the social studies of medicine February 18–21 from McGill University. Specializing Screening and Teacher Workshop on March 1–June 23 in the ethnography of Brazil and La Maestra, a documentary about women Exploring the Ancient Art of the Americas: the anthropology of health and and the 1961 Cuban Literacy Campaign The John Bourne Collection • Frist Center biomedicine, Professor Béhague’s for the Visual Arts current research interests include Tuesday, February 19 critical global health; the anthropology International Lens presents La Maestra, June of mental health and psychiatry; sci- followed by a discussion with activist Norma CLAS Teacher Institute: Portuguese for Span- ence, society and the life-cycle; and Guillard and producer Catherine Murphy • ish Teachers at University of Georgia-Athens methodological and epistemological 7:30 p.m., Sarratt Cinema ventures in interdisciplinarity. www.vanderbilt.edu/clas 7 New Faculty cont. Amy Non (Depart- CLAS Summer Language Programs ment of Anthropol- Jeffery Lesser. I loved going to evening book ogy/Medicine Health My Summer in Brazil: Vanderbilt and Society) is a and Tulane’s Portuguese launches, eating at botecos with friends, and molecular anthro- Language and Brazilian Culture going on nighttime bike rides on Avenida pologist .Her work Paulista. I loved our weekend trip to Paraty, addresses the rela- Rebecca Keng, LAS Graduate a beautiful colonial town in the state of Rio tive contributions of Student de Janeiro. I loved exploring the different genetic ancestry and f I could sum up my experience in one feiras and markets throughout the city: from sociocultural factors to explain racial disparities in hypertension in Puerto word, it would be saudades. The first the art and crafts at Feira da Republica to the Rico and in the U.S. Professor Non’s day I arrived in Brazil, my host mother antique knick-knacks at the Feira do Bixiga research focuses on epigenetic modi- Itook my neighbor and I out to a neighbor- to the fresh fruits and pasteis at the weekly fications that may occur as a result hood bar for some cervejinhas and told me feira right outside PUC. of early life exposures to stressors about that untranslatable word. Before this I enjoyed observing the unique culture which may ultimately be linked to the development of chronic diseases. summer, I had never been to South America. that emerged out of São Paulo’s immigrant Professor Non holds a master’s of I was scared and very homesick, and didn’t history. We would go to the Mercadão to public health, a Ph.D. in anthropology know what to expect. São Paulo is an eat Italian mortadella sandwiches, and wash (University of Florida, 2010), and is interesting place to live. It is loud and slightly it down with sugarcane juice. We would go currently completing a Robert Wood intimidating, scattered with steep hills and to the neighborhood of Liberdade to take Johnson HSS fellowship. poorly paved sidewalks. I soon realized that pictures under the Japanese torii arch and Dr. Lindy Fenalson real São Paulo was much better than I could then buy DVDs of Brazilian movies. São (School of Medicine) have imagined. It is a dynamic city, with too Paulo is the best example of a cosmopolitan graduated from many events to attend and great restaurants Latin American city. I loved the city so much Indiana University School of Medicine on every street corner. As the financial I decided to stay for two more weeks after in 2005 and com- capital of Brazil, not everyone walks around the program had ended, but I couldn’t even pleted pediatric in Havaianas flip-flops, but Paulistanos still scratch the surface of all the city had to offer. residency training at display the warmth and kindness Brazilians My summer in São Paulo was an unforget- Vanderbilt in 2008. She has served are known for. table experience that I would repeat in a as a pediatric AIDS corp physi- cian with the Baylor International The Vanderbilt-Tulane program had heartbeat. It was a summer of adventure, Pediatric AIDS Initiative in Lesotho much to offer both in and outside the learning, and great company. After this for two years, and went on to enroll classroom. The Portuguese classes at summer, I understand what it means to feel as an MPH candidate at Johns Pontíficia Universidade Católica de São saudade. I feel it whenever I think of my Hopkins School of Public Health Paulo were good, and we had a lot of fun friends, of my Brazilian family, and of the and to complete a pediatric nutrition learning about different regional accents and city of São Paulo. fellowship at The Children’s Hospital of . Since her time in talking about Avenida Brasil. I enjoyed the For more information on the Vander- residency at Vanderbilt, she has had “Brazilian Cultural Imaginaries” class taught bilt/Tulane program, see vanderbilt.edu/ the privilege to serve as a medical by Chris Dunn from Tulane University. We clas/brazilian-studies-and-portuguese/ provider, educator, and consultant met singer Tom Zé and went on a tour of sao-paulo-summer-2013 in several countries within Africa immigrant neighborhoods with Professor and Latin America. Included in these efforts are the Vanderbilt Maní+ proj- ect in Guatemala and the Nicaragua Global Health Elective for nursing and medical students. She is thrilled about returning to Vanderbilt to join colleagues in nutrition efforts here in Middle Tennessee and abroad.

8 The Center for Latin American Studies Alumni News Since graduating from Vanderbilt Intensive Summer K’iche’ Maya University in 2008, Lana Alman relo- Institute 2012 cated to the Washington D.C. area to work for Booz Allen Hamilton, a gov- Katie Angell, LAS Graduate ernment consulting firm. For the past Student four years, Lana has worked with diverse government clients within the aving traveled extensively through- Department of Homeland Security. out Guatemala the past few years, I She has been fortunate to travel to Mexico for two projects where have been fortunate enough to meet she directly applied her regional Hsome amazing people and to gain a deeper understanding and Spanish language understanding of Guatemalan culture and skills. In 2011, Lana’s research, titled life. This past summer, I explored for the first “Capacitación y Movilidad Laboral de time a part of Guatemala that I had never Trabajadoras Domésticas Peruanas traveled to and which easily became one of lifestyle. While in Nahualá, students are en Santiago, Chile” was published by Universidad Alberto Hurtado in the most significant places to me. Thanks to placed with different host-families and are Mujeres Inmigrantes en Chile: ¿Mano the support of the Center of Latin American able to learn about each of their individual de obra o trabajadoras con derechos? Studies at Vanderbilt University and the family’s interests. This was the best part of Lana began this research during her Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellow- my experience with the program, as it gave Fulbright in Chile in 2005–06 and ship (FLAS) offered by the U.S. Department me an opportunity to make my studies of the continued at Vanderbilt University with the support of CLAS. of Education, I was invited to participate in Maya culture more personable. the 2012 Summer K’iche’ Maya Institute in Now have I returned back to the United Sarah Foss (M.A. Latin American Nahualá, Guatemala. States and to Vanderbilt with hundreds of Studies, 2012) is starting her Ph.D. in history at the University of Indiana- The intensive, six-week Summer K’iche’ new K’iche’ words and grammatical expres- Bloomington. She spent part of her Maya Institute facilitated a genuine immer- sions, and have built close friendships in summer at the Intensive K’iche’ sion experience into the culture and customs the Nahualá community, and contributed to Maya Institute in Nahualá, Guatemala. of an intimate Mayan community in the constructing bridges of understanding and Luke Gebhard (M.A. Latin American Western Highlands of Guatemala. Not only appreciation of two different cultures. Studies, 2000) and his wife, Beth, did the program help me to build a stronger The institute will next be offered in moved to Nashville in October 2010 foundation and understanding of the K’iche’ summer 2014. Find more information online after stints in New York and Los language, but I had the unique opportunity to vanderbilt.edu/clas/guatamala-mayan/ Angeles. He works in the mayor’s office overseeing Nashville Energy to interact within the community on a daily intensive-summer-kiche-maya-program Works, an incentive program in basis and to take part in their traditions and partnership with TVA and NES to encourage Nashville residents to make energy-saving improvements certificate in latin american studies to their homes. Luke and Beth welcomed their daughter, Ava, on CLAS offers graduate students from different departments and schools at Vanderbilt the February 6. All are well. opportunity to complete a Certificate in Latin American Studies. The certificate allows students to document their regional specialization by earning the certificate, which is awarded in conjunction Col. Patrick Hall (M.A. Latin Ameri- with their M.A. or Ph.D. The LAS Certificate also encourages graduate students to study outside can Studies, 1999) has spent the last of their disciplinary specialization. For more information on the certificate, please see “Graduate five years working in embassies in Students” on the CLAS website. Latin America. He was the defense attaché in Uruguay from 2007–2009 and then served as the Army attaché Requirements for Admission to the 4 +1 Program in Venezuela from 2009–2011. He is currently the military group The College of Arts and Science at Vanderbilt University offers students in most departments and commander at the U.S. Embassy in programs the opportunity to earn both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree in a shorter Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he is period of time and at less cost than is normally the case. The usual period of study for both the responsible for planning and coordi- bachelor’s and the master’s degree is six years. Through the 4+1 option, the student with her nating all U.S. military cooperation or his advisor plans a five-year program of study. Undergraduate completion of major in LAS (or with the Defense and Security Forces in exceptional cases, a closely related field with sufficient LAS content), LAS 201, and LAS 290 of Argentina. during undergraduate years, and submission of application to 4+1 program in junior year are required. For more information, go to: vanderbilt.edu/clas/undergraduate

www.vanderbilt.edu/clas 9 Alumni News cont. M.A. Latin American Studies New Students 2012–13 Martha Hurst Herron (B.A. 1983) is a substitute teacher teaching Spanish Angelika Albaladejo is a Miami Jonathan Moody grew up in at a private K–12 school in the Atlanta native and first generation Nashville, Tennessee. Through- area. As a community volunteer, she American with Cuban and Puerto out high school and college, uses her Spanish at an emergency Rican immigrant parents. She Jonathan visited communities assistance organization to help those lived in South Florida until she in southern Mexico several experiencing financial crisis, espe- graduated from Everglades High times, solidifying his interest in cially working mothers and children School in 2008. She earned a Latin America and its indigenous who have fallen under the current B.A. in global affairs with a con- cultures. Jonathan studied for level of poverty in the area. She has centration in Latin America from George Mason a semester at the Universidad de Salamanca in worked, lived, and travelled through- University, as well as a double minor in commu- Spain. In 2011, he received his undergraduate out Latin America, primarily spending nications and conflict analysis and resolution. Her degree at the University of the South, majoring time in the highlands of Andean research has focused heavily on social, gender, in Spanish. After graduating, he spent a year in Ecuador. She maintains an interest in and conflict issues in Latin America. Apart from Nantes, France, working as a musician and Eng- the ancient cultures and sites of the her Latin American research endeavors, Angelika lish tutor. In his free time, he writes and records Andean Highlands and continues to has spent time traveling for competitive public music with his wife. He hopes to study indig- return to South America as often as speaking competitions with the GMU Forensics enous movements in Latin America, focusing on she can with her family. team, painting as part of her small business Vans- the role of music within these movements. Gogh: Hand-Painted Shoes, and working exercise Col. Lawrence W. Meder (M.A. Megan Oleson is originally from and healthier eating into her daily schedule. Latin American Studies, 1992) is Benicia, California. A two-month currently serving as the chief of staff Ashley Larson, originally from exchange in Paraguay at the age of the 364th Expeditionary Sustain- Fremont, Nebraska, studied of sixteen sparked her interest in ment Command that mobilized and at the University of Nebraska- Latin America. She spent a year deployed in support of Operation Lincoln before transferring studying the Spanish language New Dawn and Enduring Freedom. to California State University- in Granada, Spain, and holds two The 364th was instrumental in meet- Fullerton where she earned her bachelor’s degrees: one in global ing the President’s directive in bring- undergraduate degree in Latin studies with an emphasis in Latin America from ing all U.S. troops and equipment out American studies with minors the -Santa Barbara and a of Iraq and back to the United States in Spanish and Portuguese. second in Spanish literature from Middle Tennes- in a historic 57-day period; the largest At CSUF, she served as president of the Latin see State University. Her travels to the region logistical operation since World War II. American Studies Student Association and include Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, Ecuador, After Laura Morgan (M.A. Latin interned at the Museum of Latin American Art in Peru, and Paraguay. Since 2008, Megan has American Studies, 2009) graduated, Long Beach, California. Ashley also spent some been the Nashville chapter training director of the she realized that her travel bug was time abroad studying Spanish at the Universidad nonprofit youth leadership organization “Amigos not yet squashed. After complet- Veritas in San José, Costa Rica, and volunteering de las Americas.” She will focus on the study of ing her degree, she taught English at orphanages in Baja California, Mexico. Her Latin America through language and anthropology in Santiago, Chile, and then in a passion lies in the cultures and languages of Latin while at Vanderbilt University. America. At CLAS, she will focus on diaspora remote, rural village in Thailand. Upon Caitlin Patton is originally communities and the convergence of culture that returning, she moved to Washington, from Charlotte, North Carolina. occurred during German immigration to southern D.C., where she landed the position She is a recent graduate from Brazil and Chinese arrival to Cuba. of research support specialist/learning Appalachian State University center administrator at the Inter- Rebecca Keng attended with a major in anthropology and American Defense College (IADC). Vanderbilt as an undergrad, a concentration in sustainable Max Pendergraph (M.A. Latin Ameri- majoring in Asian studies and development with minors in can Studies, 2012) will be staying at Latin American studies. Rebecca Spanish and history. Her area of Vanderbilt to pursue a Ph.D. in history. is a 4+1 student and in summer research interest is rural development, com- He works on issues of migration 2012 received an FLAS to study munity responses to economic globalization, and between Iberia and Latin America and Portuguese in Sao Paulo. She how the local environment can shape livelihood his adviser will be Prof. Marshall Eakin. loves cooking, eating, and think- change in Central America and Brazil. ing about food. Rebecca is a Daniel Rojas is a Chilean student of both Latin America and East Asia and Lawyer who spent six months wishes to connect these separate areas into her working in a law firm, and research. Her research is on Asian immigrants, then realized that he wanted hyphenated identities, and issues of citizenship something different. He quit in Brazil. his position and began working

10 The Center for Latin American Studies Alumni News cont. M.A. Latin American Studies New Students 2012–13 Bryan Pitts (M.A. Latin American at Acción Emprendedora, a nonprofit organiza- Yvonne White is originally from Studies, 2006) is currently completing tion that fosters small business development Salisbury, North Carolina. She his Ph.D. in Latin American history in low-income areas of Chile. At AE, he served received her undergraduate at Duke, with an April 2013 defense as the director of an entrepreneurship center, degree from the University of planned for his dissertation, titled created a legal services department, and worked North Carolina-Chapel Hill where “The Inadvertent Opposition: The Pau- as the COO. After almost four years working in she studied psychology and lista Political Class and the Demise of this NGO, he came to Nashville to improve his Hispanic studies. At UNC, she Brazil’s Military Regime, 1968–1985.” English. He spent last semester working for the volunteered with the growing His first journal article, titled “The government in Chile, as a legal advisor in the local Latino population through ESL teaching. Audacity to Strong-Arm the Generals: National Service for Prevention and Rehabilitation Outside of the U.S., she studied abroad in Quito, Paulo Maluf and the 1978 São Paulo of Drugs and Alcohol Consumption. Ecuador, and served as an intern for the State Gubernatorial Contest” will appear Department in Guatemala City, Guatemala. in the August 2012 issue of The Captain William B. Scott is She is now interested in inequality and under- Hispanic American Historical Review. currently a foreign area officer represented populations in Brazil and other Latin in the U.S. Army for the Latin Carlos Quintana (M.A. Latin Ameri- American countries, as well as the “war” on America Region. At an early age, can Studies, 2000) lives in Rome, Italy, drugs that the U.S. is engaged in with Mexico he traveled throughout Latin and works as the Latin music guide and other Central American countries. America as his father conducted for About.com. His second son was Latin American education stud- Chelsea Williams was born and born in the summer of 2012. ies in Guatemala, Honduras, and raised in Savannah, Georgia. Becky Reuse (M.A. 2011) has been Chile. He enlisted in the Army as cavalry scout in She developed a lifelong love of working over the past year in Brazil May of 1993. After attaining a bachelors’ degree Latin America after a childhood marketing her English speaking skills, in mathematics sciences from New Mexico exchange program to Venezuela. working at a local school and at a State University, he received a commission as a Throughout her education, university and currently online at military intelligence officer. He has had multiple she cultivated that interest, OpenEnglish.com. Recently she deployments to Iraq and Kosovo, was stationed ultimately graduating magna presented at a conference about in South Korea during the Yeonpyeong-do cum laude from the University of Maryland education policy with respect to indig- shelling in November 2010, and has lived in nine with a degree in government and politics. After enous populations, comparing policy foreign countries. As an avid traveler, he loves graduation she completed an internship with in the U.S. and Brazil. From her house to indulge and immerse in foreign cultures. He the Foundation for Sustainable Development she can see the fringe of the forest quickly learns new languages, speaking several in La Plata, Argentina, and has spent the past and from her side porch the river that languages conversationally and Spanish fluently, two years working at the Gateway Center, one divides the city of Rondônia. She is and is studying K’iche at Vanderbilt. He is single of the largest homeless service providers in the one block from the famous BR-364, a but has adopted one furry, four-legged child by Southeast. She is thrilled to return to her educa- source of decades of conflict in Brazil. the name of Grizzley. tion and looks forward to being in the wonderful Her starfruit tree is full and every day city of Nashville. Rebecca West, a Nashville she opens up the door to a family of native, worked as an edito- Will Young is from Marvin, parakeets flying away as she inter- rial assistant for Alive Now North Carolina. As an under- rupts their breakfast. and Weavings at the Upper graduate at Gardner-Webb Avi Richman (M.A. 2012) just Room after studying theology University, he majored in returned to the U.S. last week after at Georgetown. Wishing to Spanish and minored in political spending around three months in and experience living abroad and science. For the past year, Will around São Paulo. He had a wonder- improve her Spanish, she moved has worked as an admissions ful time, learned a great deal about to Chile where she discovered Chilean modismos counselor at Gardner-Webb. education policy in the country, and and later developed a project through Start-Up Will’s interest in Latin America began on a mis- improved his Portuguese. Chile, which she hopes to continue during her sion trip to the region after his junior year in high time at CLAS. She finds her community with the school, and he has since traveled to the region a Leslie Rodríguez (M.A. Latin Ameri- Nashville Bridge, a nonprofit in East Nashville number of times. While at Vanderbilt, Will hopes can Studies, 2010) is in her third year dedicated to helping seventh- through twelfth- to focus on political trends and democratization as a doctoral student in Vanderbilt’s grade student prepare for college, where she in Latin America, especially among the region’s Sociology Department. Her research served as a college teacher, associate director, indigenous populations. Upon completing the focuses on international migration and now as a volunteer and member of the program, Will plans to pursue a Ph.D. in political and race. She is also working as an Nashvile Bridge family. science. editorial assistant for the American Sociological Review, the flagship journal for the American Sociological Association.

www.vanderbilt.edu/clas 11 Alumni News cont. faculty profile Laura Sellers (M.A. Latin American Studies, 2012) is starting her Ph.D. in political science at Vanderbilt. Her research interests include migration Terry Maroney, Vanderbilt Law School in the Americas. As a law student, she led an academic trip Eric Sigmon (B.A. Latin American to Cuba, where she and other students Studies, 2004) is starting his master’s degree at the Johns Hopkins School observed trials and met with attorneys, law of Advanced International Studies in students, law professors, judges, and legal Washington, D.C. In addition, he is community leaders. Professor Maroney engaged and will be getting married hopes to lead a similar trip this coming year in Colombia in March 2013. for law students. Nick Stokes (B.S. Latin American Professor Maroney also serves on the Studies, 2004) wrapped up a two- board of directors of Conexión Americas, year tour in Yerevan, Armenia, with a not-for-profit organization that promotes the U.S. Agency for International the social, economic, and civic integration Development’s foreign service in July 2012 and has been transferred to the of Latinos in Middle Tennessee. Professor U.S. Embassy in Kabul for one year to Maroney was the co-chair of the organiza- work in USAID’s Office of Democracy tion’s 2012 fundraising breakfast and is part & Governance. of the advocacy committee. Working with Steven Taylor (M.A. Latin American Conexión connects her to her own Cuban- Studies, 2011) started his new posi- American roots, giving her a chance to tion in Metro Nashville Public Schools welcome the newest arrivals in a way others teaching U.S. history and Spanish at once welcomed her family. Martin Luther King Magnet School. He is honored to be part of such a fine Professor Maroney received her B.A. school and is excited to share what erry Maroney, professor of law and from Oberlin College and earned her J.D. he learned from the Latin American professor of medicine, health, and summa cum laude from studies program with his students. society, specializes in criminal law, School of Law. Before going to law school, Hillary Voth (M.A. Latin American Tjuvenile justice, and the role of emotion in law. Studies, 2011) lives in Cochabamba, Her current scholarship analyzes the impact Professor Maroney has a particular Bolivia, and is working for an organi- of emotion on judicial decision-making. She zation called Ciudadanía. She is part also has examined the use of adolescent brain interest in the legal system in Cuba of a project called “Cultura Política y Diversidad Cultural,” which works science in juvenile cases. Of Cuban-American and its connection to the broader to promote political participation by roots, Professor Maroney is the first Latino Cuban civic and social environment. Quechua women in Cochabamba or Latina to receive tenure at Vanderbilt Law and has taken on the pioneer task School. Her affiliation with CLAS has allowed of working with Quechua women Professor Maroney to continue to cultivate her she worked as a rape crisis counselor, HIV to define political concepts in their interest in Latin America. educator, and advocate for crime victims. native language and according to their worldview. Another Vanderbilt Professor Maroney is a faculty adviser Professor Maroney joined Vanderbilt’s law alumnus, Daniel Moreno (Ph.D. Politi- for La Alianza at Vanderbilt Law School, faculty in 2006 after serving as a law fellow cal Science, 2008), is the coordinator the Latino/a student organization. In this at the University of Southern California of social investigation at Ciudadanía. capacity she works with students to create a Gould School of Law. Before her fellowship David Wheat, (M.A. Latin American welcoming and vibrant atmosphere within at USC, she was a Furman Fellow at New Studies, 2003; Ph.D. History, 2009) is the law school, and helps law students York University School of Law, a litigation an assistant professor of Caribbean connect with the local Latino/a community. associate at WilmerHale, a Skadden Fellow history at Michigan State University, She has a particular interest in the legal at the Urban Justice Center, and a law clerk where he teaches classes on Carib- bean history, colonial Latin America, system in Cuba and its connection to the to Judge Amalya L. Kearse on the U.S. Court and African Diaspora studies. He is broader Cuban civic and social environment. of Appeals for the Second Circuit. currently in Spain for a year on an NEH Fellowship (2012–13), finishing up his first book project.

12 The Center for Latin American Studies A nne R aynor Peruvian Archaeology Project Soars to New Heights xciting things are happening in the worlds of archaeolo- can take two or three years to map one site in two dimensions.” gist Steven Wernke and engineering professor Julie A. With use of the vehicle, aptly coined SUAVe (pronunciation like Adams—and if all goes well, they could have global the Spanish suave) archaeologists will now be able to map an Eimplications. In yet another testament to Vanderbilt’s collab- area in only ten minutes. In addition to the incredible increase orative environment, the two faculty members, funded by an in efficiency, SUAVe will also produce a better final product, Interdisciplinary Discovery Grant, have been working together with three-dimensional profiles of the area and outstanding on a project that could revolutionize archaeological mapping. imagery. The system itself is also easily portable, allowing for The project is a blend of the most advanced aerial technology access to even the most remote areas. and a timeless discipline. Wernke and Adams have combined The project is still in its developing stages, undergoing test- an unmanned aerial vehicle called the Skate from Aurora Flight ing this past summer in Mawchu Llacta, Peru. As the research Sciences with an advanced software program designed to continues, SUAVe’s creators are hopeful that they have discov- capture images of archaeological sites. ered a slice of modern technology that will help us delve even According to Wernke, using traditional mapping methods “it further into the past.

MUsIc / laTIN aMerIcaN sTUDIes / aMerIcaN sTUDIes

Helena Simonett, associate director of the American music,the Accordion and the in morethe Americas Philip D. Rasico, professor of Klezmer, Polka, Tango, Zydeco, and More! Center for Latin American Studies, is the exotic soundingEDITED South BY HELENa AmericanSIMONETT Spanish and Catalan language editor of the forthcoming book, The Accor- bandoneón andthe accordion the insanfoninha. the new world and linguistics, presented an “A major contribution to understanding the accordion’s important dion in the Americas: Klezmer, Polka, Tango, The authorssocial function reflect within different ethnicon cultures. the The impressive invited paper at the Medieval group of contributors illuminates the importance of studying mass culture and indicates the accordion’s enduring significance to Zydeco, and More! (University of Illinois accordion’s spreadmany cultural and and personal identities.” adaptation Studies Conference held at the —Victor R. Greene, author of A Singing Ambivalence: American Press). This volume in the series, Music in to a wide arrayImmigrants of between musical Old World and New, tradi 1830–1930- Universitat de Lleida (Catalonia), An invention of the Industrial Revolution, the accordion provided the less affluent with an inexpensive, loud, portable, and durable American Life, profiles the rise and prolifera- tions in North“one-man-orchestra” and South capable of producing America, melody, harmony, Spain, on June 27, 2012, within and bass all at once. This rich collection considers the accordion tion of this instrument across the Americas including Brazil,and its myriadArgentine forms, from the concertina, tango, button accordion, in and the section “Catalonia and piano accordion familiar in European and North American music to the more exotic-sounding South American bandoneón and the and in various musical genres. After its Colombia, thesanfoninha Dominican. Republic, Portugal: the Iberian Peninsula Capturing the instrument’s spread and adaptation to many different invention in the Industrial Revolution, the the Texas andcultures Mexico in North and South borderlands, America, contributors illuminate how from the Periphery.” Professor the accordion factored into power struggles over aesthetic values between elites and working-class people who often were members accordion provided the less affluent with Cajun and Creole,of immigrant and/orNative marginalized ethnicAmerican communities. Specific Rasico’s paper, which focused histories and cultural contexts discussed include the accordion an inexpensive, loud, portable, and durable dance, and Americanin Brazil, Argentine tango, avant accordion traditions garde. in Colombia and on the language of some of the the Dominican Republic, cross-border accordion culture between Mexico and Texas, Cajun and Creole identity, working-class “one-man-orchestra” capable of producing In addition, theculture authorsnear Lake Superior, the illustratevirtuoso Italian-American howand the earliest documents in the Catalan language Klezmer accordions, Native American dance music, and American melody, harmony, and bass all at once. The accordion wasavant-garde. at the center of artistic power (eleventh and twelfth centuries), was titled Contributors are María Susana Azzi, Egberto Bermúdez, Mark DeWitt, Joshua Horowitz, Sydney Hutchinson, Marion Jacob- contributors to the volume consider the struggles betweenson, James P. Leary, elites Megwen Loveless, and Richard March,the Cathy working “Consideracions històrico-lingüístiques Ragland, Helena Simonett, Jared Snyder, Janet L. Sturman, and various forms of the accordion including class, which wereChristine F. Zinni. often part of immigrant or entorn de les QUERIMONIAE catalanes de

HELENa SIMONETT is an assistant professor of latin american the concertina, button accordion, and piano marginalized ethnicstudies, associate directorcommunities. of the center for latin american aLSO Of INTErEST l’Edat Mitjana.” studies, and adjunct assistant professor in the Blair school of Squeeze This! a cultural History of the accordion in america Music at Vanderbilt University. she is the author of MarIoN JacoBsoN accordion familiar in European and North Banda: Mexican Musical Life Across Borders. cloth, 978-0-252-03675-0, $29.95 £21.99

A volume in the series Music in American Life Woody Guthrie, american radical WIll kaUFMaN cloth, 978-0-252-03602-6, $29.95 £21.99 OcTOBEr 360 Pages. 6.125 x 9.25 INcHes 34 Black & WHITe PHoTograPHs, 3 MaPs, 1 cHarT, 1 MUsIcal eXaMPle cloTH (UNJackeTeD), 978-0-252-03720-7. $90.00x £68.00 www.vanderbilt.edu/clas PaPer, 978-0-252-07871-2. $30.00s £22.99 13

(800) 621-2736 • www.press.uillinois.edu • University of i llinois Press 5 Vanderbilt Central Library News Our Stories: Hillsboro Students Explore In spring 2012, 318 people were invited to take a survey in order Diversity of Nashville’s Immigrant Community to identify who used the library n May 2012, CLAS hosted students and resources, geographic areas of community from Hillsboro High School interest, library resources used, and how satisfied people are with for the presentation of “Our Stories,” a the resources. With 75 completed Istudent-led ethnographic study revealing surveys, we obtained a response rate the diversity of Nashville’s local immigrant of 23.6%. community. The project was part of an AP Among the respondents, 44% were Human Geography class, taught by Hillsboro Ph.D. students; 38.7% were faculty social studies teacher Adrian Bahan. Mr. members; 12 % were master’s Bahan developed the idea after completing an students. Almost half (45.3%) of the MNPS Academy externship at CLAS in sum- respondents reported an academic mer 2011, where he worked closely with Ifeoma Nwankwo to learn about how her “Voices interest in Brazil, 41.3% in Mexico, 29.3% in Andes, 26.7% in Peru, and From Our America” project could be used as a model for high school students to conduct 20% in Chile. oral history research. VFOA collects, preserves, and disseminates forgotten, hidden, and Library books (93.3%), e-journals neglected narratives of American experience. “Our Stories” was attended by CLAS faculty (88%), and e-books (70.7%) are the and staff as well as Hillsboro faculty, students, and community. 2012–13 marks the second most often used resources. The year of a partnership between CLAS and Hillsboro High School Academy of International service provided by the librarian is Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. also well used (66.7%). Respondents consistently reported that library collection and service well served CLAS OUtreach their research needs. Your feedback presentation was the culmination of a collabora- is important: Please be on the lookout tive project Allen and Croker began in the sum- for our next survey in spring 2013. mer of 2011 at the CLAS Summer Film Institute The library’s newest exhibit “Stage at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. & Screen: The Star Quality of Vanderbilt’s Performing Arts Collec- tions” opened September 7 and will Teacher Advisory Board 2012–13 run until June 28, 2013. Professor Rae Finnie, Whitsett Elementary School Simon Collier’s tango collection is one Joel Covington, Cane Ridge High School featured area of the dance collections on the gallery level and includes video David Julseth, Belmont University and audio segments, touch screen Stephanie Knight, Hillsboro High School images, and a case of memorabilia (even including a bandoneon!). Teachers and CLAS Present on Teaching Rob Nasatir, Father Ryan High School The collection was bequeathed to with Latin American Film at AATSP Todd Wigginton, MNPS Social Studies Vanderbilt and includes approximately (American Association of Teachers of Coordinator one thousand recordings, 150 boxes of written materials, correspondence, Spanish and Portuguese) in San Juan, Puerto Rico diaries, memorabilia, as well as many Outreach Facts books and journals. Please stop in In July 2012, Harpeth Hall School teachers • CLAS is partnered with The Academy of and visit this exhibit and also see the Elizabeth Allen and Denise Croker, along with International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme newly renovated Special Collections. CLAS Outreach Coordinator Claire Gonzalez, led at Hillsboro High School. a session at the AATSP conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, entitled “Through the Lens: Teach- • CLAS is a community partner to the MNPS ing Latin America Through Film.” Participants Museum Magnet Schools of John Early and learned strategies for teaching with film across Robert Churchwell. the curriculum, using the example of Wetback: • Last year, over 200 teachers attended CLAS An Undocumented Documentary, and received workshops and institutes both on and off viewing guides and other ideas on how to campus. incorporate visual learning into their classes. The

14 The Center for Latin American Studies CLAS 2012 Summer Teacher Institutes Teacher News: In the Margin Holly Knox, former CLAS Teacher Advisory Board member and frequent institute attendee, recently spent three weeks in Havana, Cuba, as the assistant project director with MTSU’s Study Abroad Program. The group visited to the Literacy Campaign Museum, the National Ballet of Cuba, the Bio-Reserve, the self-sustainable eco-village of Las Terrazas in Pinar del Rio, the town of Matanzas (including a boat ride down the Rio Canimar), and Varadero Beach. Knox has participated previously in workshops, and was a participant in two previous teacher-focused trips (Dominican Republic and Mérida) with CLAS. Holly Knox is an adjunct instructor of Spanish at Belmont University. Summer Film Institute In July, teachers from Nashville, Warren County, Memphis, and Conneticut gathered at Groundbreaking Of Casa Vanderbilt for the CLAS Summer Film Institute. While on campus, teachers gained greater Azafran With Costa Rican knowledge of Latin America by screening selected films and documentaries from Brazil, Ambassador Muni Figueres Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. Following each screening, faculty from On April 21, 2012, Conexión Américas Vanderbilt and Belmont gave presentations on the films. In the afternoons, teachers heard broke ground on a new community presentations from staff at Vanderbilt’s Center for Teaching on using case studies, technol- center located at 2193 Nolensville ogy, and visual learning in the classroom. During the week, teachers worked collaboratively Pike. Set to open in the fall of 2012, on presentations, which they presented to colleagues on the last day of the institute. Jen- the center will offer services for the state’s growing immigrant population. nifer Degenardt , a high school Spanish teacher, states “…there is no doubt that my classes Among those on hand for the cer- for years to come will benefit from my experience, but I’m also hoping that my colleague’s emony were Muni Figureres, ambas- classes will as well.” This summer marked the first time the institute was held on the Vander- sador of Costa Rica and longtime bilt campus. This was the third year CLAS has offered the summer film institute but the associate of CLAS affiliated faculty first time it has been held at Vanderbilt. In 2010, it was held at the University of Tennessee- Larry Harrington. Figureres spoke of Knoxville and in 2011 at Millsaps College in Jackson, MS. the parallels between Costa Rica and the United States in their support of human rights for visitors and natives Modern Maya And Ancient Prophecies and applauded Conexión Américas Maya people and culture have been featured prominently for the work it is doing to dignify in popular culture over the last few years as the media have immigrants in our society. While in played up ancient Maya prophecies that supposedly pre- Nashville, Figueres met with Mitch Seligson and Susan Berk-Seligson of dict an apocalyptic end of the world in December of this LAPOP, which has strong roots and year (2012). What exactly did the ancient Maya say about presence in Costa Rica. this event? How do modern Maya live today? In June 2012, teachers in Middle Tennessee and beyond were introduced to these topics during a summer institute. Avery Dickins In spring 2012, Avery Dickins de de Girón, Mareike Sattler, Catesby Yant, and Tatiana Paz Girón (Latin American studies) and Mareike Sattler (Depart- shared their expertise on topics ranging from archaeology ment of Anthropology) taught and hieroglyphic writing systems to modern Maya lan- “Apocalypse Now? Modern Maya guages, weaving, and political economies in Guatemala. At and Ancient Prophecies” at the the end of the week, teachers presented to their colleagues Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. on how they plan on incorporating the information from Topics included what the Maya are really saying about 2012, the institute into their classes. how the Maya live and thrive today, as well as a few words in K’iche e’ Maya.

www.vanderbilt.edu/clas 15 Lapop News Student News This summer the Latin American Three Fulbright Recipients Headed to Latin America for 2012–13 Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) imple- Daniel O’Maley, a doctoral candidate in anthro- where, in addition to teaching, she will study the mented its bi-annual survey of demo- pology, will conduct ethnographic research on correlation between national English education cratic public opinion in the Americas. the politics of open-source software (such as programs and the effectiveness of microfinance The 2012 AmericasBarometer study Linux, Mozilla, and OpenOffice) by working with programs. On campus, she was co-president of includes nationally representative computer programmers, software activists, and Manna International and led Alternative Spring surveys from all mainland countries in government policymakers in São Paulo, Porto Break projects in Ecuador and Argentina. She the Americas as well as several in the Alegre, and Brasilia. “Brazil is unique because the also served as president of the Engineering Caribbean. In all, the round covered federal government there has been one of the Council and worked to create a professional com- 26 countries with over 40,000 inter- most vocal supporters of open-source software munity for undergraduates in engineering. views. Important support for the 2012 worldwide,” O’Maley said. “As an increasingly AmericasBarometer was provided Tiffany Tieu, a graduate of the Blair School of important global player, the policies Brazil pro- by Vanderbilt University, USAID, the Music, will teach English language courses and motes have broader effects.” This field research Inter-American Development Bank, establish a community music school in Ecuador. will be the basis for O’Maley’s dissertation. the United Nations Development “Tiffany, a senior violin performance major, was O’Maley previously spent a year studying visual Programme, the Tinker Foundation, an outstanding student at the Blair School,” said anthropology at the Facultad de Ciencias Sociales the World Bank, Princeton University, Carolyn Huebl, associate professor of violin. “She in Quito, Ecuador. “Dan is a very conscientious, and , among other won the concerto competition in her sophomore hardworking student who is willing to write and institutions. Data and documentation year and was awarded the Heard Prize from the re-write his papers,” said Lesley Gill, professor of from all rounds of the AmericasBa- string department in her senior year. She has anthropology and department chair. “The result rometer study by LAPOP are available also been a scholarship recipient at the Aspen is always high quality. He is a joy to have as a online at vanderbilt.edu/lapop. Music Festival.” Huebl noted that Tieu spent graduate advisee.” several weeks working in an orphanage/school in Pauline Roteta graduated in spring 2012 Quito, Ecuador, the summer after her junior year from the School of Engineering with a minor and that experience inspired her to apply for a in Chinese and received a Fulbright English Fulbright scholarship. She has deferred gradu- Teaching Assistantship. In August she will begin ate study in order to accept this scholarship, work at an asset management firm in New York, but plans to pursue a master’s degree in violin and the following year she will travel to Brazil, performance upon her return.

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