Students
First Year Latin American Studies MA Students
Rachel Beaty, B.A. English Literature/History, New York University, 2006From: Marietta, Georgia
Areas of Interest: Dual M.A. Program with Journalism, interested in Nicaragua
Danielle Cariglio, B.A. International Relations, Kent State University, 2006
From: Vail, Arizona
Areas of Interest: Dual Master’s Program with Public Administration, interested in Dominican Republic
Julia Fine, B.S. Health Policy & Administration, University of North Carolina 2001
From: Louisville, Kentucky
Areas of Interest: Dual Master’s Program with Public Health, the impacts of globalization and migration on healthcare for Latinos
Lisa Gardinier, M.L.S. Library Science, Indiana University, 2008; B.A. International Relations/Spanish, SUNY Geneseo, 2004
From: Bisbee, Arizona
Areas of Interest: Interested in the Southern Cone as well as Border of the Americas concentrations
Jamie Hutchins, B.A. Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
From: Marstons Mills, Massachusetts
Areas of Interest: Interested in Central and South America
Adrian Mendoza, B.A. History, Wabash College, 2008
From: Chicago, Illinois
Areas of Interest: Interested in Mexican history
Jordan Merritts, B.A. Latin American Studies, University of Arizona, 2009; B.S. Occupation Education in Spanish, Wayland Baptist University, 2006
From: Tucson, Arizona
Areas of Interest: Interested in Central and South America
Richard Mora, B.A. Psychology, University of California Irvine, 2002
From: Los Angeles, California
Areas of Interest: Dual Master’s Program with Public Administration, interested in Sustainable Development
Brenda Pecotte, B.A. Biology/Spanish, North Park University, 2009
From: Deforest, Wisconsin
Areas of Interest: Dual Master’s Program in Public Health, Mexico, interested in Central America and Dominican Republic
Jorge Quintero, B.A. Latin American Studies, University of Arizona, 2009
From: Tucson, Arizona
Areas of Interest: Interested in African Diaspora effects in Brazil and Colombia
Stacy Saathoff, B.A. Middle Childhood/Early Adolescence Education, Mount Mary College, 2006
From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Areas of Interest: Interested in pursuing Borders of the Americas and Anthropology as concentrations
Brian Smith, B.A. History/Political Science, University of Arizona, 2000
From: Tucson, Arizona
Areas of Interest: Interested in focusing on the Southern Cone concentration, and Water Policy
Hillary Smith, B.A. Spanish/History, University of Cincinnati, 2007
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Areas of Interest: Mexico, Central America and Immigration
Jaime Vaca, B.A. Political Science, Loyola University Chicago 2007
From: Chicago, Illinois
Areas of Interest: Interested in History and Politics of Latin America
Steven Slaton Whatley, B.A. Spanish, Valdosta State University, 2009
From: Cuthbert, Georgia
Second Year Latin American Studies MA Students
Aaron Banas
BA Business Marketing, Marquette University, 2002
Peace Corps Volunteer - Honduras and Ecuador
From: Elwood, Illinois
Areas of Interest: Immigration, Border Studies
Email: abanas@email.arizona.edu
Jeremy Carter
BA Spanish, University of Carolina at Wilmington, 2008
Peace Corps Volunteer - Republic of Guatemala 2000-2002
From: Wilmington, North Carolina
Areas of Interest: Political Economy & Sustainable Development in Guatemala and Southern Mexico
Email: carterj@email.arizona.edu
Deborah Cramer
BA International Politics and Latin America/Spanish, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007
From: Gastonia, North Carolina
Areas of Interest: Mexico, Border Studies, Migration, Indigenous Studies
Email: deb@email.arizona.edu
Catherine Dooley
BA Political Science/Spanish, University of Arizona, 2005
From: Tucson, Arizona
Areas of Interest: Mexico, Border Studies, International law
Email: cdooley@email.arizona.edu
Eric Michael Finer-Huxley
BA History, University of California at San Diego, 2005
From: Oceanside, California
Areas of Interest: Immigration, Journalism
Email: ehuxley@email.arizona.edu
Hyo Mi Kim
BA International Studies/Social Science, Michigan State University, 2005
From: Kwangiu, Republic of Korea
Areas of Interest: International Business, Mexico
Email: kimhyo1@email.arizona.edu
Oscar Lai
BA Spanish, DePauw University, 2005
From: Tucson, Arizona
Areas of Interest: Environment and Development
Email: olai@email.arizona.edu
Jennifer Mikolajczyk
BA Spanish/Physical Geography, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, 2007
From: Apple Valley, MN
Areas of Interest: Environment and Development, Border Studies
Email: mikolaja@email.arizona.edu
Francisco Navallez
BA Political Science, University of California – Irvine, 2005
From: San Diego, California
Areas of Interest: Mexico, Border Studies, Immigration
Email: fnavalle@email.arizona.edu
Abigail Nelson-Miller
BA Spanish/Latin American Studies, California State University - Chico, 2008
From: Porterville, California
Areas of Interest: Power and Inequality, Border of the Americas
Email: alnm@email.arizona.edu
Melissa Park
BA Latin American Studies/Spanish, California State University – Chico, 2007
From: Auburn, California
Areas of Interest: Mesoamerican Archaeology, Ancient Olmecs of lowland Veracruz and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Email: missypark03@yahoo.com
Neill Prohaska
BA Political Economy/BS Biology, The Evergreen State College, 2005
From: Tucson, Arizona
Areas of Interest: Sustainable Development, Environmental Justice, Journalism
Email: neillp@email.arizone.edu
Laura Reid
BA Spanish/Education, Montana State University, 2001 & 2005
From: Evergreen, CO
Areas of Interest: History
Email: lreid29@email.arizona.edu
Katie Sharar
BA International Studies/Spanish, Macalaster College, 2004
From: Davis, California
Areas of Interest: Mexico, Border Studies, Migration and Human Rights
Email: sharar@email.arizona.edu
Shelby Smith
BA International Relations, Mount Holyoke College, 2007
From: Northampton, Massachusetts
Areas of Interest: Borders of the Americas and Power and Inequality
Email: shelbys@email.arizona.edu
Uriel Varela
BA Chicano/Latin Studies/History, University of California – Irvine, 2008
From: Paramount, California
Areas of Interest: History, Power and Inequality
Email: uvarela@email.arizona.edu
Continuing Latin American Studies MA Students
Marla Aufseeser
BA, Neuroscience & Behavior, Wesleyan University, 2001 From: Newton, MA
Peace Corps Volunteer, Costa Rica (2003-2005)
Areas of Interest: Migration Policy and Human Rights (Dual Degree MA in Latin
American Studies and MPA in Public Administration & Policy, Photography,
Healing
Email: marla4@email.arizona.edu
Victoria Diaz
Areas of Interest: Contemporary Political Issues, International Law (Dual Degree)
Email: vjtdiaz@email.arizona.edu
Amy Lofton
BA International Studies/Spanish, Trinity University, 2006
From: San Antonio, TX
Areas of Interest: Development Studies, Public Health (Dual Degree)
Email: alofton@email.arizona.edu
Mariana Padias
Areas of Interest: Borders of the Americas and Immigration, International Law (Dual Degree)
Email: mpadias@email.arizona.edu
Marcelo Pereira
Areas of Interest: History, Economic Development Studies
Email: marcelop@email.arizona.edu
Curtis Prendergast
Areas of Interest: Borders of the Americas and Immigration, Journalism (Dual Degree)
Email: curtisp@email.arizona.edu
Stephanie Schuyler
BA International Affairs, Lewis and Clarke College, 2004
From: Phoenix AZ
Areas of Interest: Geography and Regional Development, Borders of the Americas and Immigration
Email: sls15@email.arizona.edu
Erica Shoaf
Areas of Interest: Latin American Literature, International Law (Dual Degree)
Email: ejshoaf@u.arizon.edu