History of the Center for Latin American Studies
1964 - 2024

“The real story of the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) is the day-to-day, year-to-year continual dedication to the highest quality scholarship and training. The real story in these pages is the way in which CLAS staff and faculty have taken each new phase in the development of the Center as a new opportunity and a new challenge—a challenge to not only maintain a position as a premier program, but to also develop the next set of new ideas.

It is, indeed, not the story of a mature program but a program that sees itself in its vigorous prime, with much more work and innovation to follow. There are plenty of laurels but no resting here. Sixty years after the founding of the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, we not only look back at our achievements but forward toward innovation and new challenges. The foundation has been well and strongly laid, and the building continues upwards”

Kathleen Musante, CLAS Director 2001-2013.

This is a compilation that recognizes CLAS staff and their accomplishments throughout the years—it would not be possible without Dr. John Frechione and Shirley Kregar and their unwavering dedication to the history of CLAS. The information in the document below was compiled by Luz Amanda Hank and edited by Kelsey Trimm in 2024 for CLAS 60 years celebration.