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Ben Nobbs-Thiessen is an Assistant Professor of History and Chair of Mennonite Studies at the University of Winnipeg. He holds a PhD from Emory University (2016), with prior roles as a research associate at Arizona State University (2016–18) and a teaching fellow at Washington State University (2018–2020). His research focuses on Mennonite migrations across the Americas, environmental change, and indigenous-settler relations. He teaches courses on Latin American Mennonites and Mennonite Studies II. His research combines archival work, field studies, and oral histories from Bolivia, Paraguay, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. His 2020 book Landscape of Migration examines Bolivia’s lowland colonization and its intersection with Mennonite and indigenous communities. Current projects include a century-long study of Mexico-Canada Mennonite migrations linked to water scarcity and neoliberal reforms. His publications span journals like Journal of Latin American Studies and Agricultural History , addressing topics like frontier development, foodways, and border conflicts. His transnational approach bridges environmental, migration, and colonial histories. He contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Newberry Consortium in American Indian Studies and the Centre for Rupert's Land Studies.

• Mennonite Studies
• Environmental History
• Migration and Diaspora Studies
• +3 more

Karoline Noack is a full Professor of Ancient American Studies and Ethnology at the Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology , University of Bonn, where she also directs the BASA Museum (Bonn Collection of the Americas). She has held this position since 2009 and is a leading scholar in Andean studies, museum ethnology, and colonial Latin American history. Her research interests are deeply interdisciplinary, focusing on: The Inca state and early colonial Andes, particularly in Peru, Bolivia, and Mexico Transculturation and gender in colonial contexts The history of ethnological knowledge, especially in the GDR Museum studies, collection ethics, and the decolonization of ethnographic museums Material culture and provenance research Her recent scholarly output centers on dependency and mobilization in the Inca Empire, the global history of resources (like cotton and coca), and the role of museums in knowledge production. She has led major projects such as 'Balancing the Center and the Local' in Cochabamba and the KOSMOS collaborative project on object-based knowledge. Her publications span museum ethics, colonial legal history, and transcultural exchange. Karoline Noack has received significant recognition, including: Membership in the German Archaeological Institute Fellowships from the Volkswagen and Gerda Henkel Foundations Membership in the DFG Review Board Leadership roles as Spokesperson for the Transdisciplinary Research Area 'Present Pasts' and Chair of BASS e.V. She advises and mentors students in ethnology and archaeology, and her work involves extensive collaboration with international scholars and institutions. Her research is supported by major German funding bodies and is published in leading academic venues. She is also deeply involved in public engagement through museum curation and exhibitions.

• Ancient American Studies
• Ethnology
• Andean Studies
• +12 more

Dr. Matthew Brookhouse is a Senior Lecturer at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, part of the Australian National University's Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions. With a PhD in Dendroclimatology from ANU, he specializes in using forest structural complexity and tree-ring analysis to understand climate interactions and ecological responses in Australian subalpine environments. Research Focus: Sub-alpine ecology, Dendrochronology, CO2 responsiveness in eucalypt species Teaching: First-year research methods with emphasis on statistical application, advanced modeling and field botany Projects: Leading collaborative snow-gum dieback research and dendrochronological monitoring initiatives His publications span 2006-2025 with recent emphasis on machine learning applications for forest monitoring, tropical tree-ring chronologies for climate change, and climate sensitivity in Australian alpine ecosystems. Key collaborations include institutions like Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and University of Canberra researchers. Current projects focus on snow-gum woodland dieback mechanisms, high-resolution dendrometric monitoring, and integrating dendrochronology with environmental policy frameworks. He maintains active supervision of research students and contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum development.

• Plant physiology
• Sub-alpine ecology
• Dendrochronology
• +2 more

Dr Tanya Harmer is a Lecturer in the Department of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She is a leading scholar in Latin American Cold War history, with a focus on Chile, transnational revolutionary movements, and gender politics. She is closely associated with the LSE’s Latin America and Caribbean Centre (LACC) and convenes the Latin America-Europe Cold War Research Network. BA, University of Leeds MA and PhD, London School of Economics and Political Science Dr Harmer specializes in the international and transnational dimensions of Cold War struggles in Latin America. Her research emphasizes the global dynamics of revolutionary movements, particularly in Chile and their connections to Cuba and broader solidarity networks. She explores themes such as women and gender in revolutionary politics, exile, resistance, and inter-American diplomacy. Her work bridges diplomatic, social, and cultural history to offer a nuanced understanding of the Cold War beyond superpower confrontation. Her recent publications include the acclaimed biography Beatriz Allende: A Revolutionary Life in Cold War Latin America (2020) and the co-edited volume Toward a Global History of Latin America’s Revolutionary Left (2021). Her articles examine topics such as the 'Cuban Question,' Kissinger’s diplomacy in Latin America, and transnational militant networks. Her research consistently highlights the agency of Latin American actors and the interconnectedness of regional and global histories. Luciano Tomassini International Relations Book Award (2013) LSE Major Review Teaching Prize (2014) Student-led Teaching Excellence Award for Research Support and Guidance (2015) LSE Excellence in Education Award (2016–17, 2019–20) British Academy Newton Mobility Award (2015) Michael Dockrill Memorial Thesis Prize (supervised student, 2021) Dr Harmer supervises PhD students working on twentieth-century Latin American history and has directed the MA in History programme at LSE. She has received grants from the British Academy to support international collaborative research and has organized major conferences on the global history of Latin America’s revolutionary left. She has held visiting teaching positions at Columbia University and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, where she was appointed Visiting Professor in 2023. She is actively involved in public engagement, having contributed to BBC Newsnight, Jacobin Magazine, and the Historias podcast. She also leads educational initiatives such as the 'Diversifying the Curriculum' project at LSE and has hosted interdisciplinary workshops on memory and resistance.

• Cold War History
• Latin American History
• Transnational History
• +12 more

Claudia Arteaga serves as Associate Professor of Spanish, Latin American, and Caribbean Literatures and Cultures and Chair of the Department of Spanish, Latin American and Caribbean Literatures and Cultures at Scripps College. Her academic profile centers on indigenous representation in Latin America through cinematic and literary analysis, with particular emphasis on Andean societies. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. and M.A. in Spanish from Rutgers University B.A. in Linguistics and Literature from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú Arteaga's research critically examines indigenous self-representation in Peru, Bolivia, and Guatemala, investigating race-gender intersections , popular environmentalism , and epistemological translation in post-colonial contexts. Her work bridges Decolonial Theory , Indigenous Film Studies , and Andean Cultural Analysis , with significant contributions to understanding how communitarian filmmaking challenges dominant narratives. She actively connects academic research with social movements through interdisciplinary approaches. Her publication trajectory reveals consistent focus on indigenous media as decolonial praxis , with recent works analyzing Mayan documentaries, Quechua poetry, and Amazonian film schools. The research demonstrates evolving methodology from textual analysis toward community-engaged film studies, particularly examining how film festivals and grassroots cinema reshape environmental and identity politics across Latin America. Notable recognitions include: Mary W. Johnson Faculty Achievement Award in Teaching (Scripps College, 2018-2019) Sabbatical Research Fellowship (Scripps College, 2018-2019) Rutgers Teacher-Scholar Fellowship (2013-2014) Adolfo Snaidas Best Graduate Student Essay Award (2009) Arteaga has secured significant research funding from CLAS and GAIA for faculty-student collaborations and academic events, including the initiative 'Sumak Kawsay & Bolivarianism Today.' Her teaching portfolio spans advanced literature courses and specialized seminars on indigenous women's struggles, reflecting her commitment to integrating research with pedagogy. She maintains active engagement with the Latin American Studies Interdisciplinary Group, fostering connections between academic work and community activism. Her current projects extend into contemporary indigenous media production, with ongoing analysis of how digital platforms transform testimonial practices and environmental advocacy among Quechua and Mayan communities.

• Indigenous Studies (Latin America)
• Latin American Postcolonial Studies
• Andean Studies
• +5 more

Jack Martínez Arias is an Assistant Professor of Hispanic Studies at Hamilton College , specializing in Indigenous and Andean Studies . His work critically examines the intersections of extractive industries , cultural production , and environmental impacts in Peruvian and Bolivian contexts. Education: Ph.D. from Northwestern University, B.A. from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. His research explores how literature , film , and cultural narratives reflect and resist extractivism , colonialism , and environmental degradation . He also investigates transculturación in Andean traditions and the role of science fiction as a tool for cultural resistance . Martínez Arias’ publications focus on Andean modernity , mining fictions , and ecocritical responses to extractive practices. His recent journal contributions span Latin American literature , film studies , and popular culture , emphasizing historical memory and social justice . Additional roles include serving on the Latin American Studies Committee and advising the Spanish Club . He is a member of the Latin American Studies Association and has taught courses on Hispanic cinema , Indigenous migration , and Spanish immersion .

• Indigenous Studies
• Andean Studies
• Latin American Literature
• +7 more

Jaime Rodriguez Matos is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures at California State University, Fresno, where he has been employed since 2018. His academic career includes prior roles as Lecturer at Fresno State (2016-2018) and Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan (2007-2016). Education: Ph.D., Spanish and Portuguese, Columbia University M.Phil., Spanish and Portuguese, Columbia University M.A., Spanish and Portuguese, Columbia University B.A., Spanish Language and Literature, University of New Hampshire Rodriguez Matos specializes in Latin American poetry, nihilism, infrapolitics, and temporal theory. His work interrogates the intersections of philosophy and literary form, particularly focusing on the deconstruction of time in works by José Lezama Lima, Eduardo Lalo, and Álvaro García Linera. Current research explores neo-revolutionary rhetoric and anarchic political thought in Latin America. His published and forthcoming articles address themes such as Lacanian critiques of hegemony, the ontologies of the present, and the formless in Caribbean politics. Rodriguez Matos has presented at international conferences including the Latin American Studies Association and the University of California, Irvine Humanities Commons cluster. Selected Publications: Writing of the Formless: José Lezama Lima and the End of Time (Fordham University Press, 2017)

• Latin American Literature
• Comparative Literature
• Nihilism
• +5 more

Patrick Dove is a Professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Indiana University Bloomington, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on intersections between literature, philosophy, and political thought in Spanish America, particularly addressing modernity, conflict, and cultural artifacts. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from SUNY Binghamton (2000), an M.A. in Philosophy from SUNY-Binghamton (1996), and a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Wisconsin (1992). His current research project examines Central American conflicts in contexts of narco-capitalism and migration, analyzing historical legacies and contemporary challenges. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on topics like Latin American political thought, continental philosophy, and cultural studies. Dr. Dove has received notable awards, including the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Grant (2012–15) and multiple fellowships. His work spans literary criticism, political theory, and interdisciplinary humanities, with a focus on Latin America's socio-historical dynamics. His research also explores global war, sovereignty, and cultural representation, with publications in journals like CR: The New Centennial Review and Culture, Theory and Critique . He is actively engaged in academic leadership and interdisciplinary initiatives, including the Center for Theoretical Inquiry in the Humanities.

• 20th Century Spanish American Narrative
• Political Thought
• Continental Philosophy
• +4 more

Dr. Brandon A. Boyd serves as Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Missouri's College of Music, holding the Marie M. and Harry L. Smith Endowed Chair. He directs the MU University Singers, Sankofa Chorale, and Choral Union Symphonic Chorus while teaching graduate courses in choral conducting, literature, and arranging. His research focuses on community-building through choral singing, with specific interests in organizing choirs for homeless populations, studying the social and physical effects of choral singing on senior citizens, and creating authentic field experiences for music therapy and choral education students. His work extends internationally through partnerships with Bolivian universities and domestic community initiatives including prison choirs and senior citizen ensembles. As a composer and arranger, Dr. Boyd's works appear in publications by Hinshaw Music, Gentry Publications, GIA, and Kjos Music Press. He curates the 'Brandon A. Boyd Choral Series' with Hinshaw Music and serves as Executive Choral Editor for Gentry Publications. His compositions primarily focus on African-American spirituals and traditional arrangements, often incorporating gospel elements and contemporary rhythmic signatures. Notable performances include collaborations with the London Symphony Orchestra, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Missouri Symphony, and St. Louis Symphony, with multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall as conductor, composer, and collaborative pianist. Marie M. and Harry L. Smith Endowed Chair National ACDA Composition Initiative committee member Executive Choral Editor of Gentry Publications Dr. Boyd maintains active community engagement through initiatives like the Santa Fe Desert Chorale's 'Giving Voice to the Voiceless' program, where he served as Composer-in-Residence and created the Interfaith Community Shelter Street Choir for homeless populations. His international work includes conducting workshops at Universidad Católica Boliviana and Universidad Evangelica in Bolivia through Partners of the Americas. He directs significant choral community partnerships including the Tallahassee Senior Choir, RAA Middle School Partnership Choir, and MTC Women's Prison Glee Club, demonstrating his commitment to music's social impact beyond traditional academic settings.

• Choral Music Education
• Community Choir Development
• African-American Spirituals
• +6 more

Laura Gotkowitz is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. She specializes in Modern Latin American history, with a focus on Bolivia, indigenous struggles, race, and political violence. Her research explores themes such as indigenous rights, colonial legacies, and human rights post-World War II. Education: PhD in History from the University of Chicago (1998), MA in History from the University of Chicago (1991), BA in Semiotics and History from Brown University (1985). Research Interests: Current work examines the 1947 trial of a Bolivian military regime and the flight of European refugees to Bolivia. Key topics include anti-fascism, violence, and democracy in the post-war era. Publications: Notable works include A Revolution for Our Rights: Indigenous Struggles for Land and Justice in Bolivia (2007) and Histories of Race and Racism (2011). Her articles address indigenous congresses, legal frameworks, and gendered violence in Bolivia. Scientific Awards: Includes the ACLS Frederick Burkhardt Fellowship (2012-13) and the AHA John E. Fagg Prize (2008). Multiple Fulbright and grants from institutions like Wenner-Gren Foundation. Teaching and Advising: Taught courses on Latin American history, race, and human rights. Advised doctoral and MA students including Natalie Kimball, Araceli Mendiluce, and Jo Butterfield. Active in mentoring junior faculty at the University of Pittsburgh. Service: Organized conferences on race, Bolivia’s Constituent Assembly, and Latin American history. Served as Co-Director of the Latin American Studies Program at the University of Iowa.

• Modern Latin America
• The Andes
• Political Violence
• +5 more

María Lois is a Lecturer in the Department of History, Theories and Political Geography at the Complutense University of Madrid, Faculty of Political Sciences and Sociology. She is a member of the 'Space and Power' Research Group and 'Polarts (The Politics and the Arts)', a Standing Research Group within the ECPR. María serves as board member of the Research Committee 15 (Political and Cultural Geography) of the International Political Science Association and co-editor of the journal Geopolítica(s). Her research focuses on Political and Cultural Geography , with particular emphasis on border studies, cultural governance, and the heritageization of European borders. She explores geographies of nationalism, spatial interpretations of artistic processes, and geopolitics of globalization, with specialized expertise in literary geographies and cultural dimensions of border regions, particularly the Spanish-Portuguese border. Her work demonstrates how borders transform rather than disappear, examining cross-border cooperation projects that create new spatial configurations while maintaining elements of national security frameworks. María Lois's scholarly contributions reveal consistent focus on spatial arrangements reflecting power relations. Her analysis of border heritage through multiple scales shows parallel versions of the past serving different political purposes. Her research on the Spanish-Portuguese border examines how smuggling routes have been transformed into tourist experiences, re-signifying historical practices for contemporary cultural consumption. She has also made significant contributions to understanding the geopolitics of the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing border closures as territorial solutions to exceptional situations. Her teaching aligns closely with research interests, particularly in political geography. She has developed innovative approaches using film as a learning tool in political geography education, creating shared teaching resources among faculty members through her project 'APRENDIZAJE A TRAVÉS DEL CINE.' María Lois is actively engaged with research teams focusing on border studies and cultural geography. Her work with the 'Space and Power' Research Group and 'Polarts' suggests collaborative environments where theoretical and empirical border studies are developed. Her participation in EU-funded cross-border cooperation projects indicates practical engagement with policy applications of her research.

• Political Geography
• Geopolitics
• Cultural Geography
• +4 more

Christopher Bronk Ramsey is Professor in Archaeological Science and Head of the School of Archaeology at the University of Oxford, affiliated with Merton College. As chair of the INTCAL committee, he oversees global radiocarbon calibration. His expertise spans archaeological science, Quaternary environmental research, and nuclear instrumentation development. Research focuses on radiocarbon dating, Bayesian chronological modeling, and AMS techniques. Key areas include Quaternary chronology, human evolution, climate change impacts, and archaeological applications in the eastern Mediterranean, Amazonia, and Anglo-Saxon England. He develops the OxCal software for statistical chronology analysis. Recent publications emphasize radiocarbon calibration advancements, pre-Columbian land-use in Amazonia, European Neolithic chronologies, and high-precision dating methods. His work integrates archaeology, environmental science, and data science to address chronological challenges across diverse temporal and spatial scales. No specific scientific awards were detailed in the source material. He supervises numerous doctoral students on topics ranging from dendrochronology to digital archaeology and Middle Stone Age chronology. Major projects include FeedSax (Anglo-Saxon agriculture) and HERCA (Amazonian human-environment interactions), securing research grants for interdisciplinary teams. Professor Ramsey directs the OxCal project and co-leads IntCal, IntChron, FeedSax, and HERCA initiatives. These teams develop calibration standards, integrate chronological data, and investigate past human adaptations to environmental change, particularly in Amazonia and Europe.

• Radiocarbon Dating
• Chronology Building
• Archaeological Science
• +4 more

Caitlin Andrews-Lee is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a Ph.D. in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and has prior affiliations as a postdoctoral fellow at Tulane University’s Center for Inter-American Policy and Research and as an Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on comparative politics and political behavior, with a particular emphasis on charismatic leadership dynamics in Latin America, gendered authority structures, and political succession in authoritarian contexts. Her academic contributions include the award-winning book The Emergence and Revival of Charismatic Movements: Argentine Peronism and Venezuelan Chavismo (Cambridge University Press, 2021), which explores how charismatic movements sustain influence over time. Current research examines how women navigate and redefine charismatic authority norms in political leadership. Her scholarship appears in journals such as Comparative Political Studies , Democratization , and Journal of Politics in Latin America . Key themes in her work address populist legacies, authoritarian responses, and the interplay between historical political rhetoric and contemporary governance challenges. Awards include the Leon Epstein Award (APSA) and Social Sciences Award (LASA). Her office is located in Hamilton Hall, UNC-Chapel Hill, with regular office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• Comparative Politics
• Political Behavior
• Charismatic Leadership
• +3 more

Sonia Alconini is the David A. Harrison III Professor of American Archaeology at the University of Virginia, where she serves as a Professor in the Anthropology Department. Originally from Bolivia, she has conducted decades of archaeological research in the Andes, specializing in the Inka Empire and its frontier regions. Her work focuses on the complex interactions between imperial powers and indigenous populations in pre-Columbian South America. Alconini's research interests center on the rise of sociopolitical complexity in ancient pre-Columbian societies, with particular emphasis on the frontiers of the Inka empire. She employs a multidisciplinary approach combining archaeology and ethnohistory to assess the materiality of colonial encounters and the mechanics of ancient imperialism. Her research spans multiple analytical scales from regional to community and household levels, examining how imperial and indigenous encounters shaped ancient borderland populations. Her extensive publication record includes the book Southeastern Inka Frontiers: Boundaries and Interaction (2016), co-edited the Oxford Handbook of the Incas (2018) with Alan R. Covey, and Distant Provinces in the Inka Empire (2010) with Michael Malpass. Recent work focuses on the Kallawaya region east of Lake Titicaca, examining topics such as trophy head practices, ceramic traditions, and the sociopolitical dynamics of borderland regions between the Inka Empire and groups like the Guaraní-Chiriguano. Alconini has directed significant fieldwork in southeastern Bolivia where the Inka confronted the belligerent Guaraní-Chiriguano tribes from the tropical lowlands, as well as in the Kallawaya region and the Inka frontier installation of Samaipata. Her research has been supported by various institutions including academic grants and collaborations with local communities.

• Andean Archaeology
• Inka Empire
• Pre-Columbian Societies
• +7 more

Karin Vélez serves as Associate Professor of History at Macalester College, specializing in pre-1800 Global History since joining the faculty in 2011. Her academic journey includes a doctorate from Princeton University (2008) and undergraduate studies at Williams College where she participated in the Mellon-Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program. Her research centers on the Atlantic World, early modern Iberian and French empires, and transnational religious phenomena. Key interests include spiritual encounters, comparative empire dynamics, Catholic devotion networks, indigenous women's frontier experiences, and communal myth formation. Current projects examine refugee-driven Catholic diffusion in the late 1600s involving Dalmatian Slavs, Canadian Huron, and Peruvian Moxos Indians, alongside investigations of weeping, displacement, and failed miracles in religious contexts. Her methodological approach combines archival research across Lisbon, Sevilla, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Toronto, Québec, and the Bolivian Amazon with analysis of transoceanic exchanges like flying Holy Houses and wampum gifting. Professor Vélez teaches diverse courses spanning oceans history, magic-science intersections, conquest-conversion dynamics, and cultural intermediaries, alongside foundational world history and humanities writing seminars. Her pedagogical philosophy emphasizes reinventing historical narratives to serve contemporary relevance, connecting classroom instruction with her archival research on how past interpretations evolve for present utility.

• Atlantic World History
• Early Modern Iberian Empires
• Early Modern French Empires
• +8 more