Laura J. Enriquez

Laura J. Enriquez is a Professor of the Graduate School specializing in Development in Latin America, Latin American Emigration to Europe, Rural Sociology, Political Sociology, and Social Movements. Her research examines social transformation in Latin America through agrarian reform, food policy, and migration, with fieldwork conducted in Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, and Italy.

Enríquez's work centers on the intersection of agriculture, politics, and migration. She analyzes how economic crises and political transitions impact small farmers and drive migration patterns, particularly focusing on women's experiences. Her methodology combines ethnography and oral histories to document lived realities of social change, emphasizing how class, gender, race, and immigration status shape individual trajectories within broader structural forces.

Her publications reveal three decades of scholarly contribution, evolving from agrarian reform studies in Nicaragua and Cuba to contemporary analyses of Latin American migration to Europe. Recent works like her 2022 book 'Children of the Revolution' highlight transnational experiences of Nicaraguan women in Italy, demonstrating how revolutionary hopes transform into migration strategies when local prospects diminish.

Scientific Awards:

• Outstanding Paper Award Winner at the Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2011

Enríquez's research demonstrates sustained engagement with Latin America's political-economic transformations, connecting historical agrarian studies with current migration phenomena. Her work bridges theoretical debates about socialist transitions and market reforms with grounded analyses of human experiences, particularly emphasizing gendered dimensions of social change. While specific grant details and advising activities aren't documented in the provided materials, her publication record indicates extensive international field research and collaborative scholarship.