Robert Alvarez '16
"My M.A. Latin American Studies has had a profound impact on my career and intellectual growth. The LAS program helped me to develop tools for understanding systemic inequalities, the systems of power that reinforce them and community-driven ways to address them from a grassroots, political, and policy perspective." Read more in bio
Robert "Bobby" Alvarez is the Deputy Director of Training and Operations for CADCA, a national and international non-profit based out of Washington, D.C. metro that works with over 7,000 grassroots, community coalitions in over 24 countries and throughout the U.S. to create community driven solutions to address substance misuse and violence. As Deputy Director, he is responsible for the oversight and strategic direction of Customized Training and Services, National/International Youth Programs, and the National Community Engagement Strategy. In this capacity he seeks to create strategic partnerships, drive innovative solutions, and empower communities to implement environmental strategies to address systemic problems.
Prior to arriving at CADCA, Robert amassed 14 years of experience working with marginalized communities and youth, nationally and internationally, in youth leadership, gang diversion, community-based mental health, education, and community development. During the course of his career, Robert served in the US Peace Corps in El Salvador (’07-’10) as a Youth & Community Development Coordinator and is an alumni of the Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship where he served as a Special Advisor to the Ministry of Education in Guatemala (’16-’17).
During his time in the Latin American Studies program Robert was a Peace Corps Coverdell Fellow in addition to receiving a Tinker Foundation Fellowship and a FLAS Fellowship to conduct field work for his thesis research “The Price of Glory: A Socio-Economic Analysis of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Fortaleza, Brazil”. While a graduate student Robert spent time volunteering with “No Mas Muertes”, the City of South Tucson, and was also selected as a Diplomacy and Diversity Fellow through Humanity in Action.
Robert is a native of Los Angeles, California, speaks Spanish and Portuguese, and was a dual-degree student receiving both an M.A. in Latin American Studies and Master of Public Administration from the University of Arizona, he also possesses a B.A. Psychology from Northern Arizona University.
"My M.A. Latin American Studies has had a profound impact on my career and intellectual growth. The LAS program helped me to develop tools for understanding systemic inequalities, the systems of power that reinforce them and community-driven ways to address them from a grassroots, political, and policy perspective. My time in LAS also led me to a deeper understanding of the socio-economic and political context of Latin America and provided me with the knowledge and experience to be awarded a Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship in addition to expanding my current work with community coalitions throughout Latin America."