Scholars and Visitors

Each year CLAS sponsors an outstanding group of visiting scholars. The group ranges from area specialists to public intellectuals and practitioners. Visiting scholars give public talks and participate fully in the intellectual life at CLAS.

Applying for affiliation with CLAS

Senior Scholars

Maria Echaveste

Maria Echaveste has built a distinguished career working as a public policy consultant, lecturer, senior White House official, long-time community leader, and corporate attorney. She has lectured at UC Berkeley's School of Law and was affiliated with the UC Berkeley Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy.  She is currently working on immigration, civic engagement, labor rights and education. She is an affiliate of the Berkeley Food Institute, a multi-disciplinary center at UC Berkeley, focused on transforming our nation’s food system. She specializes in international issues related to Mexico and Latin America, including being named by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as Special Representative to Bolivia in 2009.  From 1998 to 2001, Echaveste served as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff to President Bill Clinton. From 1997 to 1998, Echaveste was director of the Office of Public Liaison at the White House and the administrator of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division from 1993 to 1997. 

Visiting Scholars

Sergio Fajardo (Colombia, 2019)

Sergio Fajardo is among the most innovative political leaders in Latin America. He is known for transforming the city of Medellin, once dubbed "the most dangerous city on earth." He recently ran for president of Colombia and received 24% (4.5 million) of the votes cast. Formerly, he served as the governor of Antioquia (2012-2015) and the mayor of Medellín (2004-2007). He was highly innovative in both offices, emphasizing education, public works, and community participation. Professor Fajardo holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and is a Visiting Scholar at the UC Berkeley Center for Latin American Studies during the Spring 2019 semester.

Elize Massard da Fonseca, Brazil (2019)

Elize Massard da Fonseca holds a Ph.D. in social policy from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. She is an assistant professor of public administration at the Sao Paulo Business School (FGV). She is currently working on (i) the emergence and consolidation of an ambitious set of policies to align health commitments with pharmaceutical industrial development in Brazil, and (ii) the political economy of pharmaceutical regulation in Latin America. Her research is strongly geared towards impact in Latin America, namely the improvement of governments’ institutional capacity and health policies. She has also acted as a technical consultant for several United Nations agencies (UNODC, UNFPA, UN Women) on monitoring and evaluation of social protection projects.

Affiliates (non-resident)

Carolina Botelho (Brazil, 2018-19)

Carolina Botelho holds a Ph.D. in political science from IESP / UERJ, a master's degree in sociology and anthropology from UFRJ and a degree in social sciences from UFRJ. She is currently working on a project on bureaucracy and public policy in Brazil, coordinated by Professor Barry Ames of the University of Pittsburgh. She was a researcher at FGV, IPSOS, UERJ, IPEA, UFRJ and other institutions. She is co-author and co-organizer of the books Reforma da Previdência - A Visita da Velha Senhora; Brasil Pós-Crise: Agenda para a Próxima Década; Novo Regime Demográfico: uma nova relação entre população e desenvolvimento, and Caminhos Trilhados e Desafios da Educação Superior no Brasil. She has experience in public management in federal and state governments.

Past Visiting Scholars and Researchers