History and Mission

The CLAS Mission (English) 

The mission of CLAS is to promote global understanding through support for teaching, learning, and research in and on Latin America, the Caribbean, and the diverse diasporic communities of Latin America and Caribbean origin. CLAS provides faculty with the resources and intellectual environment to realize cutting-edge research, and students with unequaled educational experience and a solid path to a successful career. Through its community engagement programs, the center shares its resources regionally, nationally, and internationally. 

La misión de CLAS (Español) 

La misión de CLAS es promover la comprensión global a través del apoyo a la enseñanza, el aprendizaje y la investigación en y sobre América Latina, el Caribe y las diversas comunidades diaspóricas de origen latinoamericano y caribeño. CLAS proporciona a los profesores los recursos y el entorno intelectual para realizar investigaciones de vanguardia, y a estudiantes con una experiencia educativa inigualable y un camino sólido hacia una carrera exitosa. A través de sus programas de participación comunitaria, el centro comparte sus recursos a nivel regional, nacional e internacional.

A missão do CLAS (Português) 

A missão do CLAS é promover a compreensão global por meio do apoio ao ensino, aprendizagem e pesquisa na e na América Latina, no Caribe e nas diversas comunidades diaspóricas de origem latino-americana e caribenha. O CLAS fornece ao corpo docente os recursos e o ambiente intelectual para realizar pesquisas de ponta e alunos com experiência educacional inigualável e um caminho sólido para uma carreira de sucesso. Por meio de seus programas de envolvimento comunitário, o centro compartilha seus recursos regional, nacional e internacionalmente.


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.

 

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