CLACS Seminars

CLACS periodically organizes short courses with visiting scholars and professionals about their research and interests. Past highlights include courses taught by former presidents, as well as writers, journalists, and scholars from across Latin America.

Daniela Rossell: How to Say Yes (2023)

This writing workshop orbits around paying attention to what we each need in order to take creative risks. We will start by saying YES—wholeheartedly—to a daily writing practice and see where that takes us

Sergio Fajardo: "Education as the Engine of Social Transformation" (2016)

Sergio Fajardo was the governor of Antioquia, Colombia, from 2012-2015. He previously served as mayor of Medellín from 2003-07.

Alma Guillermoprieto: "Reflections on Latin America: El Salvador, Mexico, and Colombia" (2012)

Alma Guillermoprieto is a Mexican journalist and author, known for breaking the story of the El Mozote massacre in El Salvador.

Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas: "The Promise & Legacy of the Mexican Revolution: 1910-2010" (2010)

Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas has been a candidate for president of Mexico three times, and served as Head of Government for the Federal District from 1997-99.

Kirsten Sehnbruch: "Latin America's Development and Labor Markets" (2008)

Kirsten Sehnbruch is the Director of the Center for New Development Thinking at the Universidad Diego Portales in Chile.

Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, "1988: The Mexican Transition to Democracy" (2006)

Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas has been a candidate for president of Mexico three times, and served as Head of Government for the Federal District from 1997-99.

Peter Smith: "Democracy and Democratization in Central America" (2005)

Peter H. Smith is the Simon Bolivar Professor of Latin American Studies at University of California in San Diego.

Jorge Arrate: "Argentina and Chile: Democracy and Integration" (2004)

Jorge Arrate was a minister of various departments in the Chilean government under Presidents Allende, Aylwin and Frei.

David Bonior: "Revolution from the Left and Right in Central America, 1979 to 1994: U.S. Congressional Involvement" (2003)

David Bonior was was a leading voice in the U.S. House of Representatives during the debate over Central American policy and NAFTA in the 1980s & 90s.

Dani Zelko: La Lengua Encantada (2023)

Un taller para inventar formas de escuchar y escribir a partir del encuentro con otrxs. ¿Cómo escuchamos? ¿A quién? ¿Qué hacemos con lo que escuchamos? ¿Pueden las herramientas del arte, los experimentos con el lenguaje y nuestros sueños políticos retroalimentarse?

Javier Couso: "The Clash Between Liberal and Radical Constitutionalism" (2016)

Javier Couso is a professor and expert on constitutional law and the Universidad Diego Portales in Chile.

Ricardo Lagos: "Latin American Development After the Crisis: the Emerging Middle Classes" (2012)

Ricardo Lagos served as President of Chile from 2000-06.

Sergio Aguayo: "Rescuing Mexican Democracy: The Role of Civil Society" (2010)

Sergio Aguayo is a Mexican academic and human rights activist, and has been a professor and researcher at El Colegio de México since 1977.

Daniel Coronell: "Contemporary Colombia" (2007)

Daniel Coronell is a Colombian journalist, and is President of News for Univision in the United States.

Kirsten Sehnbruch: "Employment Policy in Latin America" (2006)

Kirsten Sehnbruch is the Director of the Center for New Development Thinking at the Universidad Diego Portales in Chile.

Sabina Berman: "Mexican Theater Workshop" (2005)

Sabina Berman is considered Mexico's most acclaimed and commercially-successful playwright.

Antonio Barros de Castro: "Brazil in Translation" (2003)

Antonio Barros de Castro was an economist specializing in Brazilian development policy.

Sandy Tolan: "Politics and Petroleum" (2002)

Sandy Tolan is an award-winning author and associate professor of journalism at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC

Enrique Dussel Peters: "Maquiladores in Central America and Mexico: Conditions and Challenges" (2002)

Enrique Dussel Peters is a professor at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Javier Couso: "Chile at the Crossroads" (2020)

Javier Couso (Ph.D., Law and Jurisprudence, UC Berkeley) is Professor and Director of Constitutional Law at the Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago.

Bob King: "Labor and the Global Economy" (2014)

Bob King was the President of the United Auto Workers from 2010-14.

Horacio Salinas: "La Nueva Canción and Popular Movements in Latin America" (2011)

Horacio Salinas is a Chilean guitarist and composer, and served as the director of the musical group Inti-Illimani.

Alma Guillermoprieto: "Reflections on Latin America: Central America, Colombia, Venezuela (2009)

Alma Guillermoprieto is a Mexican journalist and author, known for breaking the story of the El Mozote massacre in El Salvador.

Ricardo Lagos, "Latin American Development After the Crisis: the Emerging Middle Classes" (2007)

Ricardo Lagos served as President of Chile from 2000-06.

Horacio Salinas: "La Nueva Canción and Popular Movements in Latin America" (2005)

Horacio Salinas is a Chilean guitarist and composer, and served as the director of the musical group Inti-Illimani.

Kirsten Sehnbruch: "Employmeny Policy in Latin America" (2005)

Kirsten Sehnbruch is the Director of the Center for New Development Thinking at the Universidad Diego Portales in Chile.

Nancy Applebaum: "Race, Region, and Nation: Colombia in Comparative Latin American Context" (2003)

Nancy Applebaum is currently the director of the Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies Program at Binghamton University.

Lorenzo Meyer: "The U.S. and Mexico: A Never-Ending Quest to Accomodate Conflicting Agendas" (2002)

Lorenzo Meyer is professor at El Colegio de México A.C. and is on of the foremost historians and political analysts in Mexico.

Sergio Fajardo: "Contemporary Politics: Perspectives from Colombia for the World" (2019)

Sergio Fajardo, a Colombian presidential candidate in 2018, was the governor of Antioquia, Colombia, from 2012-2015. He previously served as mayor of Medellín from 2003-07.

Gabriela Cabezón Cámara: "El ritmo de la violencia, a writing workshop" (2013)

Gabriela Cabezón Cámara is an author and the long-time Arts & Culture Editor of Argentina's Clarín.

Michelle Bachelet: "Democratic Governance, Development, and Global Women's Rights" (2011)

Michelle Bachelet served as President of Chile from 2006-10 and 2014-18.

Juan Gabriel Valdés: "Where is Latin America Heading?" (2008)

Juan Gabriel Valdés has been Chile's Ambassador to the United States since 2014. He served as Ambassador to the United Nations from 2000-03.

Sergio Aguayo: "Mexico 2006: The Presidential Election and Consequences for Democracy" (2007)

Sergio Aguayo is a Mexican academic and human rights activist, and has been a professor and researcher at El Colegio de México since 1977.

Mariclaire Acosta Urquidi: "Democratic Change and Human Rights in Mexico" (2005)

Mariclaire Acosta is a Mexican academic, writer, and human rights activist.

Jorge Wilheim: "Urban Planning: Innovations from Brazil" (2004)

Jorge Wilheim was an architect and urban designer who worked on the planning of many of Brazil's major cities.

Sergio Aguayo: "Mexico: What Lies Ahead?" (2003)

Sergio Aguayo is a Mexican academic and human rights activist, and has been a professor and researcher at El Colegio de México since 1977.

Diamela Eltit: "Author's Writing Workshop" (2003)

Diamela Eltit is a Chilean writer and academic.

Ruth Cardoso: "Youth in Brazil: Social Situation, Culture and Public Policies" (2000)

Ruth Cardoso was a Brazilian anthropologist and professor at the University of São Paulo, and served as Brazil's first lady during Fernando Henrique Cardoso's presidency.