Andra B. Chastain

Andra B. Chastain is an Assistant Professor of History at Washington State University Vancouver, specializing in modern Latin America with a focus on 20th-century Chile. She holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (2018), an M.A. from UC Berkeley (2012), and a B.A. from Reed College (2008). Her research explores urban and environmental history, the history of science and technology, and transnational Cold War dynamics, particularly through the lens of Santiago’s metro system. This infrastructure project serves as a case study for analyzing political transitions, neoliberalism, and inequality. Chastain has conducted research in Chile, France, Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S., supported by grants from the Social Science Research Council and others.

Her teaching excellence was recognized with the 2020 Students’ Award for Teaching Excellence. Key awards include the Lewis Hanke Postdoctoral Prize (2019) and the Michael Katz Dissertation Award (2018). Her book manuscript, Chile Underground, examines the Santiago Metro’s role in political and economic shifts. She co-edited Itineraries of Expertise (2020) and has published widely on Cold War infrastructure, urban planning, and transport history.

Chastain advises students interested in modern Latin American and world history, emphasizing transnational Cold War studies, oral history, and the intersection of science/technology with urban development. Her work bridges academic research with public engagement, highlighting how infrastructure reflects broader socio-political struggles.