Andrew Zimbalist is the Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College and member of the Five College Graduate Faculty. He received his B.A. from University of Wisconsin-Madison (1969), and M.A./Ph.D. from Harvard University (1972/1974). His visiting appointments include Hamburg University, Doshisha University, and University of Geneva. Research interests focus on sports economics, economic development, and Latin American political economy. His work examines stadium financing impacts, Olympic economics, college sports reform, and Cuban economic policy, combining empirical analysis with policy evaluation. Recent publications explore athlete compensation models and mega-event economic sustainability. Honors include: America's Top 100 Influential Sports Educators Frank Press Public Service Award Who's Who in America Presidency of the Drake Group Extensive consulting includes testimony before U.S. Senate committees, work with MLB/NFL/NBA organizations, and contributions to documentary films. Leads projects on Title IX compliance and sports antitrust cases while serving on editorial boards for multiple academic journals.
Dr Stephen Fay is a Senior Lecturer in Spanish and Director of the Digital World Research Centre at the University of Surrey. He holds a PhD and specializes in Medical Humanities, Dementia Studies, and Latin American Cultural Studies. His research focuses on creative therapies for dementia patients and families, notably through collaborations with the Antioquia Neuroscience Group (GNA) in Colombia. He has led interdisciplinary projects involving neurologists, psychologists, and humanities scholars to develop narrative-based interventions. Education: PhD (specific institution not detailed). Research interests include therapeutic storytelling, Latin American literature, and cultural studies. His work bridges humanities and healthcare, addressing dementia care through innovative methodologies. He has supervised a doctoral candidate who successfully completed their PhD in 2019. Teaching contributions include designing over 20 undergraduate and postgraduate modules in Latin American literature and translation. Publications highlight his contributions to dementia care during the pandemic, Cuban identity studies, and José Martí analysis. He leads the Digital World Research Centre, fostering interdisciplinary digital humanities projects.
Dr. Elizabeth Kath is a Senior Lecturer in Global Studies at RMIT University's School of Global, Urban, and Social Studies, and Local-Global Theme Lead at the Social Equity Research Centre (SERC). Her research focuses on migration, intercultural relations, digital technology's impact on society, and Latin American studies. She has authored/co-edited key works such as The Digital Global Condition (2023) and Australian-Latin American Relations (2016). Over 15 years at RMIT, she has taught courses like 'Digital Technology and Globalization' and supervised numerous research projects. Dr. Kath collaborates internationally, speaks Spanish/Portuguese, and has conducted fieldwork across Latin America. She chairs the Australian National Training Panel and co-directs the Hola Melbourne Festival of Latin American Culture. Education: Implied PhD in Global Studies/Social Theory (not explicitly stated). Research Interests: Social Theory, Cultural Theory, Digital Technology, Migration, Reconciliation, and Latin American Studies. Teaching: Coordinates capstone courses in International Studies and integrates innovative pedagogy. Service: Board member roles in Global Reconciliation and the Damion Drapac Foundation. Her recent publications analyze digital ethnography, Latin American migration in Australia, and posthumanist technology ethics. Her work bridges global-local dynamics, emphasizing social inclusion and cultural authenticity in the digital age.
Vanni Pettinà is an Associate Professor at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice in the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies. His academic work focuses on Latin American international history, inter-American relations, and global Cold War dynamics. PhD in Contemporary History from Universidad Complutense de Madrid/CSIC Visiting Researcher at LSE, Library of Congress, and Columbia University Previously taught at Colegio de México for ten years His research interests include: Latin American Cold War historiography US-Latin American relations Global Cold War dynamics Mexican foreign policy evolution Postcolonial analysis of inter-American systems Publications highlight thematic trends in: Decolonization processes Regional ideological struggles US hegemony and counter-movements 21st-century post-COVID-19 challenges Cold War economic/technological exchanges Scientific awards: UNC-Duke Consortium Latin American in Translation grant for research recognition Teaching activities encompass: History of US Foreign Relations (6 credits) across multiple Master's programs History of Latin America (6 credits) in undergraduate programs Inter-American Relations (6 credits) in graduate curricula
Timothy Hyde is a Professor and Associate Department Head at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the School of Architecture + Planning and the Department of Architecture. His research explores the political dimensions of architecture from the eighteenth century to the present, with a focus on architecture’s relationship to law and urban governance. Hyde holds a BA from Yale University, an MArch from Princeton University, and a PhD from Harvard University. His major publications include Ugliness and Judgment: On Architecture in the Public Eye (2019) and Constitutional Modernism: Architecture and Civil Society in Cuba, 1933-1959 (2012). He is a founding member of the Aggregate Architectural History Collaborative and has contributed to journals like Log , Thresholds , and Journal of Architecture . Hyde has been a Clark/Oakley Humanities Fellow at the Clark Art Institute and Williams College (2020-21), a MacDowell Colony Fellow, and has received grants from the Graham Foundation and the Paul Mellon Centre. His work examines topics ranging from architectural aesthetics to the entanglement of legal frameworks in urban development. He has advised on grants related to architectural history and theory, and his research often bridges interdisciplinary boundaries between law, politics, and material culture. Hyde is actively involved in MIT’s architectural programs and contributes to public dialogues on the role of architecture in societal structures.
Frank Argote-Freyre is a Professor in the Department of History at Kean University's College of Liberal Arts. He holds a Ph.D. in Latin American History from Rutgers University and a B.A. in History and Psychology from the same institution. His research focuses on Cuban and Latin American history, particularly revolutionary movements, political leadership, and social dynamics. He teaches courses on Cuban history, colonial and modern Latin America, and the Caribbean. His notable works include analyses of Fidel Castro's rise, Fulgencio Batista's political evolution, and the socio-economic impacts of Cuba's sugar industry. Despite his prolific scholarly contributions, no formal awards are mentioned in the provided materials. Advising and grant activities remain unspecified. Argote-Freyre’s publications span biographies, political critiques, and comparative historical analyses, reflecting his expertise in 20th-century Cuban and Latin American political landscapes.
Sondra Cuban, Ph.D., is a Professor and Director of Adult and Higher Education at Western Washington University. Her research focuses on migration, gender, and transnationalism, particularly among marginalized groups. She has conducted Fulbright research on migrant women in Chile and is currently studying Mongolian women's migrations funded by the Jack Street Fund and Henry Luce Foundation. Her work explores urbanization, economic justice, and family networks, with projects examining internal migration in Mongolia and transnational movements to South Korea. Key achievements include her 2022 book Mapping Southern Routes of Migrant Women: A Case Study of Chile and a documentary on immigrant childcare workers featured in international film festivals. She will be a 2025 fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit. Education: Ph.D. in relevant field (details unspecified). Grants: Jack Street Fund for Mongolia, American Center for Mongolian Studies, Henry Luce Foundation. Her research highlights migrant women’s agency in urbanization and global cities, leveraging family networks and digital tools to navigate socioeconomic challenges.
Professor Jennifer Hosek holds a position in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Queen's University, cross-appointed with Gender Studies, Film and Media, and the Cultural Studies Graduate Program. She is affiliated with the Queen’s-University of Havana Exchange. Her research focuses on 20th-21st century German culture, Cuban film, mobility cultures, and transnational feminist theories. Notable works include the monograph *Sun, Sex and Socialism: Cuba in the German Imaginary* (2012) and the documentary *Rolando en La Habana: bicycle stories* (2016), which received international acclaim. Education: PhD (Comparative Literature, UC Berkeley, 2004), MA (Comparative Literature, UC Berkeley, 1995), BA (summa cum laude, Comparative Literature and German, University of Illinois, 1992). She was a Stanford Fellow in the Humanities before joining Queen's in 2007. Research interests span European Union cultures, critical pedagogies, and petrocultures. She co-edited *Cultural Topographies of the New Berlin* (2017) and *Christa Wolf: A Companion* (2018). Current projects include a monograph on urban mobility cultures and the digital tool *LinguaeLive*, funded by SSHRC and internal grants. She co-organizes the *Contagion Cultures* lecture series. Teaching areas include German Studies, Film and Media, and Global Development Studies. Awards include the 2008 National Coalition of Women in German Best Article Prize.
Sara M Fieldston is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Seton Hall University. Her work focuses on post-World War II U.S. history, particularly the intersections of childhood, Cold War politics, and American global influence. She explores how cultural initiatives like child welfare programs and tourism shaped U.S. imperialism and domestic perceptions of foreign policy. Her major works include Raising the World: Child Welfare in the American Century (Harvard UP, 2015), which examines how child welfare efforts were intertwined with U.S. geopolitical ambitions, and her current project Shopping for Empire: American Tourists, Consumption, and Power after World War II analyzes tourism's role in reinforcing American global power through consumer practices. Fieldston teaches courses on modern U.S. history, including America Since 1945 , History of New York City , and History of Travel and Tourism in America . Her research emphasizes the cultural dimensions of political power, demonstrating how everyday practices like sponsorship programs and souvenir collecting contributed to Cold War-era imperial narratives.
Andrew Saito is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and Performance in the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Purchase College, State University of New York. He is a playwright, dramaturg, and teaching artist with a strong international focus on indigenous narratives, cross-racial storytelling, and anti-colonial performance practices. Education: BA in Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley MFA, Iowa Playwrights Workshop, University of Iowa His research and creative work explore hybridity, cultural memory, and struggles against colonialism, with extensive fieldwork in Peru, Papua New Guinea, Cuba, and Guatemala. He has collaborated with renowned theater collectives such as Grupo Cultural Yuyachkani, Teatro Kusiwasi, and Asociación Xajooj Tun. His plays have been produced by Cutting Ball Theater, FaultLine Theater, Brava Theater, and others, often engaging urgent social and environmental themes such as climate change, water rights, and wartime memory. His recent and upcoming works reflect a deep commitment to decolonial aesthetics and community-based creation, with productions planned with AlterTheater and Montalvo Arts Center. His creative output spans political satire, environmental drama, and intercultural adaptations, demonstrating a diverse and evolving artistic trajectory. Scientific Awards: Fulbright Scholarship (2012) As a teaching artist and mentor, he has guided emerging playwrights through residencies and workshops nationally and internationally. He has no formal grants listed, but his Fulbright and Mellon residencies indicate significant external support. He is actively involved in performance-based research and continues to develop new works that bridge academic inquiry and theatrical innovation. He is affiliated with several artistic communities and collectives, including Teatro de los Elementos (Cuba) and Asociación Xajooj Tun (Guatemala), and has held residencies at Blue Mountain Center, Montalvo Arts Center, Djerassi, and Arquetopia Foundation. His work exemplifies the role of theater as a tool for cultural preservation, critical dialogue, and global engagement.
Kevin A. Gould is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia University. His research examines environmental and economic policy-making in the Americas, with emphasis on political ecology, historical/economic geographies of Guatemala, and the entanglements of development and militarization. He holds a PhD in Human Geography from the University of British Columbia (2009) and was a research fellow at Dartmouth College. His research explores: The politics of market-assisted land reform and post-disaster reconstruction Cold War infrastructure development in Guatemala Transnational processes connecting Canada, US and Guatemala Critical geography of universities and student movements Gould's publications predominantly focus on political ecology, disaster governance, and land politics in Latin America, with recent work analyzing climate change discourses, militarized humanitarianism, and post-earthquake reconstruction. His articles demonstrate consistent engagement with themes of state power, knowledge production, and neoliberal policy impacts across the region. As an advisor, Gould supervises graduate research on political ecology, critical geography, and Latin American studies. His current students investigate post-disaster housing in Chile, agricultural governance in MENA, and climate services in Guatemala. He has graduated 15+ Master's and honors students since 2010, with theses spanning indigenous geographies, food movements, and urban space politics.
Professor Mervyn Bain holds a Personal Chair in International Relations at the University of Aberdeen's School of Social Science. He completed his MA, MLitt, and PhD at the University of Glasgow, specializing in Latin American and Soviet Studies. His academic roles include Head of School of Social Science since 2017 and prior promotions from Lecturer (2004) to Senior Lecturer (2011) before his current position (2019). His research focuses on Cuban-Soviet relations, post-Soviet Russia, and Latin American diplomacy, with emphasis on historical continuity in international alliances. Key projects include studies on Moscow-Havana dynamics, post-Castro Cuba, and colonial-era British-Cuban interactions. He has authored books such as *Moscow and Havana 1917 to the Present* and edited volumes on Cuban international relations. Teaching responsibilities include courses on Soviet foreign policy, Latin American politics, and research methodologies. He leads the Institute for Conflict, Transition, and Peace Research and contributes to interdisciplinary projects like Arctic Domus and Cross-cultural taste initiatives.
Professor Stéphanie Panichelli-Batalla is a leading academic at the University of Warwick, where she serves as Head of the School for Cross-Faculty Studies, Academic Director for Global Sustainable Development and Liberal Arts, and Academic Director for Sustainability. She is based in the Global Sustainable Development department within the School for Cross-Faculty Studies and is a HEA Principal Fellow, reflecting her excellence in higher education pedagogy. Her research is centered on Caribbean Studies, particularly Cuba, with interdisciplinary approaches drawing from Cultural Studies, Sociology, and Oral History. Her work critically examines Cuban internationalist healthcare professionals, medical diplomacy, and the socio-political dimensions of Cuba’s global health initiatives. She has made significant contributions to the understanding of oral histories in politically sensitive contexts and the role of humor in narratives of displacement and resilience. The recent publications reflect a strong focus on medical diplomacy, sustainable development, and oral history, with a thematic emphasis on Cuba, South-South cooperation, and global health. Her work spans historical, literary, and development studies perspectives, often integrating personal narratives with broader socio-political analysis. She frequently collaborates with scholars across disciplines and institutions, contributing to journals in history, sustainability, and cultural studies. Scientific Awards and Recognition: British Council Researcher Links grant Higher Education Academy Principal Fellow (Advance HE) Professor Panichelli-Batalla is actively involved in mentoring and supervision, particularly in postgraduate research related to Latin American human rights, Cuban culture, oral history, and Education for Sustainable Development. She co-directs the Oral History Network and the ESD Network at Warwick, playing a pivotal role in advancing institutional strategies on sustainability and interdisciplinary research. Her leadership has been instrumental in expanding undergraduate and postgraduate programs and establishing new academic divisions such as Design Studies. She previously held academic positions at Aston University, Wingate University, and Princeton University, bringing extensive international experience to her current role. Her work continues to shape both academic discourse and institutional policy on global sustainable development and interdisciplinary education.
Raysa Amador is a Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Adelphi University’s College of Arts and Sciences. She has served as Chair of the department (2006–2021) and Director of the Latin American Studies Program since 1990. Her academic leadership extends to numerous university committees and advisory roles, including the DACA, International & Immigration Task Force and the International Studies Committee. Ph.D., New York University (1978) M.A., New York University (1973) B.A., Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, New York University (1972) Certificate, Data Processing Programmer, New York University (1979) Her research centers on Hispanic literature, Latina writers and artists, second language acquisition, and the intersection of law and literature in colonial chronicles. She explores themes of identity, gender, transculturation, and narrative power, particularly in the works of Frida Kahlo, Cristina Garcia, Julia Alvarez, and other Latina figures. Her pedagogical focus includes intermediate Spanish curriculum development and cultural literacy. The recent scholarly output reflects a strong trend in feminist and transnational studies, analyzing the female body, self-representation, and cultural identity across literature and visual art. Her work bridges interdisciplinary fields such as law, rhetoric, anthropology, and history, particularly in her studies of the Chronicles of the Indies and colonial legitimacy. Adelphi Presidential Award for Diversity and Inclusion (2020) Distinguished Faculty Excellence Award (2005) Septima Clark Distinguished Faculty Award (1999) President’s Faculty Development Award (multiple) Certificate of Award for Advancing Women's History (1999, 2000) Selected speaker, New York Council for the Humanities (multiple years) Amador has advised numerous undergraduate and graduate students in research and theses, particularly in Hispanic literature, identity, and social justice. She has secured multiple grants, including from the U.S. Department of Education and the New York Council for the Humanities, supporting seminars, speaker programs, and cultural festivals. Her leadership in organizing the Spanish Film Series with Pragda highlights her commitment to public humanities and cultural engagement. She has been instrumental in developing academic programs such as the Latin American Studies Concentration and has served on key search and governance committees. Her long-standing advisory role with Latino Students United (formerly La Unión Latina) underscores her dedication to student support and diversity initiatives.
Gabriel Sosa is the Saturday Studios Director in Art Education and a Visiting Lecturer in Illustration at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt). He is also Deputy Director of Essex Art Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts, demonstrating strong ties to community-based arts education and public engagement. Education: M.F.A., School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, 2016 B.A., Boston University, 2007 Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, 2007–2008 His research and creative interests center on public art, language, identity, and community engagement . As a Cuban-American artist and former court interpreter, his work interrogates linguistic accessibility, cultural hybridity, and institutional critique. His projects often involve collaboration with urban communities, museums, and public spaces, reflecting a deep commitment to socially engaged art practices. Themes of visibility, communication, and spatial politics recur across his exhibitions and curatorial work. The 15 most recent articles reflect a consistent engagement with socially responsive art , blending curatorial innovation, performance, and public intervention. They span disciplines including public art, disability studies, digital culture, and political aesthetics , demonstrating a transdisciplinary approach rooted in community dialogue and critical theory. Scientific and Artistic Honors: Materia Abierta Residency, Mexico City (2021) Art & Law Program Residency, New York (2021) Urbano Project Residency, Boston (2021) Now + There Accelerator Program, Boston (2020) Lugar a dudas Residency, Colombia (2019) Gabriel Sosa actively mentors youth and emerging artists through programs like Saturday Studios and the Urbano Project. While no formal grants are listed, his residencies and public art projects suggest funding from cultural and community organizations. His curatorial and educational leadership at Essex Art Center and MassArt highlights a sustained commitment to expanding access to the arts. He leads initiatives at Saturday Studios and Essex Art Center , both focused on community-driven art education and exhibition. These labs and teams emphasize inclusivity, youth development, and cross-cultural dialogue, functioning as incubators for socially engaged artistic practice.
