Dear CLACS community,
We are excited to welcome you to the 2026/2027 academic year. CLACS has some excellent programming getting scheduled that includes the Faculty Research Symposium featuring the recipients of the CLACS and the Cuba Initiative’s summer research awards. There will also be a Global Community Health Pathway Speaker Series and many co-sponsored events with our campus partners including book launches, invited artists, and a panel on Venezuelan politics.
This semester, I am pleased to serve CLACS as Interim Director and want to extend my thanks to departing Director Diana Ojeda. During her tenure Dr. Ojeda led the CLACS Colloquium, connecting scholars from across IUB schools to share their research on the region in a friendly interdisciplinary environment and supported more faculty through the faculty research grant. Thank you again Dr. Ojeda!
I’m pleased to be joining the CLACS team this semester as Interim Director. For the past five years, I have been serving as the Director of the IU Center for the Study of Global Change. My research areas include the archaeology of Oaxaca, Mexico and global community-engaged learning. I’m looking forward to connecting with the vibrant community of faculty, students, and staff that make CLACS a dynamic site for interdisciplinary research, instruction, and outreach focused on Latin America and the Caribbean. Please reach out to me and I hope I see you at one of our upcoming programs.
Muchos Saludos,
Eli Konwest