Center for
Latin American Studies

By consolidating world-class programs in Latin America, Caribbean and Latino Studies, the UF Center for Latin American Studies positions Florida at the center of intellectual, political, economic, and cultural exchange with the region. Your gift will assist the Center to maintain its academic prominence, better prepare its students, and initiate and expand research and training programs on a broad range of themes.

Support at all levels—from small annual gifts to the creation of endowed chairs and funds—is needed and welcome. Gifts can be made through the UF Foundation website or by using a Gift Form.

Annual Giving

There are several funds available for annual giving.

Latin American Studies Fund

Unrestricted gifts to this fund allow the Center to support all the activities for which State funding may not be used and to respond to special needs and opportunities. Examples of such needs include lecture series, study abroad scholarships for undergraduate students, faculty travel grants, research assistantships for graduate students, and visiting professors on exchange from Latin American universities.

Boonstra Family Research Fellowship

Margaret Beshore Boonstra and her children created this endowment in memory of Ambassador Clarence A. Boonstra and in recognition of the family's longstanding involvement with Latin America. The endowment supports grants for graduate students pursuing thesis or pre-dissertation research in Latin America or the Spanish-speaking Caribbean.

Carol French Doughty Memorial Fund

This fund supports graduate student research in Latin America and Latino communities, with an emphasis on educational issues. This fund’s purpose reflects Carol Doughty’s interest in Latin America and its people, along with her strong belief that teaching was an indispensable calling in support of society and nation. Carol was the daughter of Polly and Paul Doughty (UF Professor Emeritus of Anthropology) and the sister of Tom Doughty.

Colonel Glenn A. Farris Scholarship

Colonel Glenn Farris served as Foreign Student Advisor at UF from 1963–73, following a distinguished military career. Colonel Farris helped hundreds of recently exiled Cubans to gain admission to UF and successfully pursue degrees. A group of these Cuban-American alumni endowed the fund that provides scholarships to MALAS students.

LAS Alumni Graduate Student Travel Fund

Established by the Center’s Alumni Board, this fund supports travel grants for graduate students to present papers at professional meetings, to complete LAS-related internships, or to participate in short-term study tours in Latin America.

Terry McCoy Latin American Travel Scholarship

Colleagues and former students of Terry McCoy, Director of the Center from 1985–96, established this fund to support student travel grants for short-term study abroad programs in Latin America, such as those that McCoy developed and promoted.

Safa Graduate Student Travel Endowment

Helen I. Safa, Professor Emerita of Anthropology and Latin American Studies, created this endowment to provide travel grants for UF graduate students presenting papers at the international congresses of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA). Safa was Director of the Center (1980–85) President of LASA (1983–85).

Schmink Fund for Innovation in Tropical Conservation and Development

Marianne Schmink, co-founder and long-time director of the Center’s Tropical Conservation and Development (TCD) Program, established this fund to strengthen and sustain TCD’s impact. The fund supports new initiatives, training projects, or collaborative research; networking activities among TCD alumni, students, and partners; and outreach activities to return research results to local organizations. Schmink will match the first $15,000 in contributions on a one-to-one basis over five years.

Vivian G. Nolan Graduate Fellowship in Latin American Studies

This fund supports graduate fellowships for students studying indigenous peoples and cultures at the Center for Latin American Studies. Vivian Nolan was an administrative assistant at the Center for Latin American Studies from the early 1960s to 1980s. A gift from Wanda and Charles Denny, the daughter and son-in-law of Vivian Nolan, endowed the fellowship program.

Wagley Research Fellowship and Carter Fellowship

This endowment honors two former UF anthropologists. Charles Wagley was known for his work with peoples of the Brazilian Amazon. William E. Carter, Director of the Center (1969–77), was a specialist in Bolivian Aymara communities. The Wagley Fellowship supports graduate students pursuing social science research in Latin America, especially Brazil. The Carter Fellowship supports non-traditional graduate students and other meritorious individuals affiliated with the Center.

Creating Endowments

Endowments afford a legacy for the donor and perpetual funding for the Center. To discuss creating an endowment, please contact Philip Williams, Center Director, at pjw@latam.ufl.edu. Sample endowments and amounts are provided below.