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 Scholar

Maria Echaveste

Maria Echaveste is the President and CEO of The Opportunity Institute, which works to improve social mobility by building "cradle to career" educational oppotunities. She has built a distinguished career working as a public policy consultant, lecturer, senior White House official, long-time community leader, and corporate attorney. Echaveste 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, and 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. 

Affiliated Scholars (non-resident)

Carolina Botelho (Brazil, resident 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.

Carlos Milani (Brazil, resident 2017) 

Carlos R. S. Milani is an Associate Professor at the Rio de Janeiro State University’s Institute for Social and Political Studies (IESP-UERJ). He is also a Senior Research Fellow with Brazil’s National Research Council (CNPq) as well as the Rio de Janeiro State Research Foundation (FAPERJ), and Associate Editor of the Brazilian Political Science Review.  His research agenda focuses on Brazilian foreign policy, international development politics, and comparative foreign policy.  During his stay at Berkeley, he will be writing a book, provisionally titled, South-South Cooperation and Foreign Policy Agendas: Comparing the Cases of Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey.  More information on his research, teaching and publications can be found at www.carlosmilani.com.br.

Past Visiting Scholars and Researchers