MALAS Students

Students in the MA in Latin American Studies (MALAS) program come from a wide range of educational and cultural backgrounds. To earn their MALAS degree, each student designs an individualized, interdisciplinary plan of study that draws on the social and natural sciences, the humanities, and the professional schools. Meet our current cohorts of MALAS students below!


 

Rebeca Almonacid Leal

Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil

Education:  Accounting at University of Brasilia 

Email: rebecafariaalmon@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Rebeca!


Jessica Alvarez Starr

Hometown: Gainesville, FL

Education: B.A. in History and Spanish, Minor in Latin American Studies, Magna Cum Laude, University of Florida

Email: jalvarezstarr@ufl.edu

Learn more about Jessica!


Jorge L. Arcia Durán

Hometown: Barrancabermeja, Colombia

Education: B.A. in Anthropology, Universidad de Antioquia

Email: jarciaduran@ufl.edu

Learn more about Jorge!


Jorgelina Benitez

Hometown: Brazil 

Education: Bachelor in Business Administration 

Email: jbenitez1@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Jorgelina!


Ashley Borges

Hometown: Miami, FL

Education: B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Latin American Studies at the University of Florida

Email: ashley.borges@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Ashley!


Laura Milena Botero

Hometown: Táchira, Venezuela

Education: B.A. in Psychology from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Caracas, Venezuela

Email: laura.botero@ufl.edu

Learn more about Laura!


Illyamani Castro

Hometown: Manhattan, New York

Education: B.A in Anthropology, minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies, Cum Laude, New York University

Email: castro.illyamani@ufl.edu

Learn more about Illyamani!


Sixta Cecilia Chaverra Martinez

Hometown: Quibdó, Chocó - Colombia

Education: Bachelor's in English and French 

Email: sixtachaverramar@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Sixta!


Maria de la Cruz Mora

Hometown: Newberry, FL 

Education: Bachelors of Arts in Political Science, minor in Latin American Studies. Cum Laude. University of Florida 

Email: mdelacruzmora@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Maria!


Beatriz Domínguez Alemán

Hometown: Santiago, Chile / Miami, Florida

Education: BA in Anthropology with a minor in Cultural Politics, Cum Laude, Alberto Hurtado University, Chile

Email: beatrizdominguez@ufl.edu

Learn more about Beatriz!


Sarah Rebecca Dominguez

Hometown: Boca Raton, FL

Education: Bachelor's in International Studies focused on Latin America and the Caribbean and a minor in Art History from the University of Florida, Cum Laude

Email: sarahdominguez@ufl.edu

Learn more about Sarah!


Ana Garcia De Dios

Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

Education: A.S. in Dental Hygiene from Pensacola State College, B.A. in International Relations from Florida International University, Summa Cum Laude

Email: anagarciadedios@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Ana!


Duvan Gulfo Perea

Hometown: Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia

Education: Bachelors of English and French - Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó / Graduate Studies in Active Methodologies and Learning in Education - Universidad Complutense, Madrid, España

Email: gulfopereaduvan@ufl.edu

Learn more about Duvan!


Daniela Hernandez-Gil

Hometown: Miami, FL

Education: B.A. Anthropology, B.A. Criminology student at the University of Florida

Email: dhernandez5@ufl.edu

Learn more about Daniela!


Joanne Kreinbihl

Hometown: Bell, FL

Education: B.A. in Criminology, B.S. in Psychology at the University of Florida

Email: joannekreinbihl@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Joanne!


Daniela Lizarazo

Hometown: Bucaramanga, Colombia

Education: Social Worker, finishing a master's degree in Social Intervention

Email: daniela.lizarazo@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Daniela!


Rodrigo Mezarina Muriel

Hometown: Lima, Perú

Education: B.A in Sociology, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú

Email: rodrigo.mezarina@ufl.edu

Learn more about Rodrigo!


Alfredo Ortiz

Hometown: Gainesville, Florida

Education: B.A. in Philosophy and International Studies, Cum Laude, University of Florida

Email: alfredo.ortiz@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Alfredo!


Carlos Eduardo Paredes Camacho

Hometown: Hialeah, FL

Education: Miami-Dade College AA; Emory University BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Law with High Honors; University of Miami Masters of Science in Education and Social Change

Email: carlos.paredes@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Carlos!


Jane Teresa Perez

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Education: B.A. in Political Science & History, Magna Cum Laude at the University of Florida

Email: janeperez@ufl.edu

Learn more about Jane!


Nilton Quirolli Junior

Hometown: Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil

Education: Law, Maringá State University

Email: n.quirolli@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Nilton!


Ana Maria Ramirez Gomez

Hometown: Cali, Colombia

Education: B.A. in Social Communication and Journalism - Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Cali, Colombia / Graduate in Creativity and Innovation in Digital Communication and Social Media - Universidad Complutense, Madrid, España

Email: a.ramirezgomez@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Ana Maria!


Diana Rodriguez Allende

Hometown: Ciales, Puerto Rico

Education: B.B.A. in International Business, Minor in Religious Studies

Email: diana.rodrigueza@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Diana!


Daniel Sarkela

Hometown: Greer, SC

Education: Bachelor of Music in string performance and Spanish, minor in Latin American studies. Magna Cum Laude. Furman University 2022

Email: Danielsarkela@ufl.edu

Learn more about Daniel!


Adriana Sela

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Education: Bachelor's in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Florida

Email: adriana.sela@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Adriana!


Gabrielle Soto

Hometown: Orlando, FL

Education: B.A. in Economics and International Studies with a focus in Latin America and a Minor in Asian Studies from the University of Florida

Email: gabrielle.soto@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Gabrielle!


Tania Trejo-Mendez

Hometown: Lakeland, FL

Education: B.A. in History, Emory University 

Email: ttrejomendez@ufl.edu

Learn more about Tania!


Thais de Menezes Goncalves Zschaber

Hometown: Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Education: Law, Federal University of Minas Gerais

Email: t.goncalves@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Thais!