UF Center for Latin American Studies
The specialization in Development Studies and Economic Analysis is a multi- and inter-disciplinary plan of study focusing on theories and analyses of economic, political, social and sustainable development; economic and development policy; and associated issues. Goals of the specialization include: (1) Understand the evolution of thinking about development from the nineteenth century to the current period (2) Explore contending positions in policy debates as well as of alternative development strategies, programs, and projects (3) Assess challenges and outcomes of various economic and development initiatives (4) Critically investigate underlying assumptions and their implications for human rights, social equity, and sustainability. Students may emphasize particular goals to meet their interests.
To help students and advisors to navigate the vast and constantly shifting curricular landscape supporting Latin American Studies at UF.
To foster connection and collaboration around shared interests among current and prospective UF faculty, students, and partners.
Before each semester, the Center compiles and posts online a Guide to hundreds of LAS-related courses available the coming semester. Some courses contributing to specializations are offered every semester, others once every few years. The list of courses provided here is not intended to guarantee any curricular offerings, but rather to open horizons to topics that have been and may be offered in widely varied programs around UF.
Each specialization offers students the opportunity to craft personalized programs of study and to add their own contributions. Students may identify additional courses relevant for a specialization, including new and one-time offerings, and may seek approval from the Specialization Coordinator to count such courses toward specialization credits.
Leslie Anderson (Political Science; Central America Argentina) Popular Politics and Citizen Empowerment, Development of Democracy
Grenville Barnes (Forest Resources and Conservation; Central and South America, Caribbean) Land Tenure, Cadastral and Land Information Systems
Carmen Diana Deere (Emerita. Latin American Studies, Food and Resource Economics; Brazil, Andes, Central America, and Caribbean) Agricultural Development, Gender and Development, Political
David Diehl (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) Program Planning and Evaluation
Michael Heckenberger (Anthropology; Brazil and Caribbean) Tropical and Historical Archeology, Embodiment, Urban Studies
Berta Esperanza Hernández-Truyol (Law) Civil Rights, Comparative Law, Human Rights, Human Trafficking, International and Regional Human Rights (Inter-America and Europe), International and Transnational Law, LGBT Issues, Marriage Equality, Race & Race Relations Sovereignty, War and War Crimes, Women, Gender and the Law
Travis McArthur (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) Food and Resource Economics; Trade, Technology Adoption, Methods
Charles Moss (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; Mexico) Food and Resource Economics, Agricultural Finance, Agricultural Policy
Conner Mullally (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) Food and Resource Economics; Impact Evaluation, Labor Policy
Andy Naranjo (Finance) International Finance, Asset Pricing, Corporate Finance, Real Estate Finance, Capital Market Linkages and Flows, Information Flows and Processing
Jeffrey Needell (History) Brazilian History, Early Modern Latin America, History of Amazonia
Gulcan Onel (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) Food and Resource Economics; Mexican Immigrants in Florida, Labor Economics
Marit Ostebo (Anthropology and Development) Gender equality and Women’s Rights, Gender Based Violence, Medical Anthropology, Global Health, Reproductive Health and Rights, Anthropology of Aid and Development, Anthropology of Human Rights, Feminist Anthropology, Religion and Development, Faith-Based Organizations, Team-Based-Learning
Susan Paulson (Latin American Studies) Political Ecology, Gender/Class/Race/Ethnicity, Research Methodologies, Sustainability Science, Degrowth
Cecilia Peluffo (Economics Department) Development Economics, Labor Economics, Applied Microeconomics
Anna Peterson (Religion; Central America) Social Ethics and Environmental Ethics, Christianity
Stephen Perz (Sociology; Brazil) Environmental Sociology and Demography, Sociology of Development
Ignacio Porzecanski (SNRE) Biodiversity, Sustainable Development, General
Stephen Powell (Law; international trade law, dispute settlement, trade and environment; general)
Hector Sandoval (Economics Department, Director of Economic Analysis Program BEBR) Social Interactions, Education, Poverty, Program Evaluation
Marianne Schmink (Emerita. Latin American Studies and Anthropology; Brazil) Sustainable Development, Regional Development, Women and Development
Cynthia Simmons (Geography) Agrarian Reform, Land Conflict, Political Ecology, Economic Development & Environmental Policy, Social Processes
Jane Southworth (Geography; Central America) Climate Change, Remote Sensing
Marilyn Swisher (Family Youth and Community Services; Caribbean and Central America) Rural Development, Adult Educational Programs in Community Development, Sustainable and Organic Agriculture
Catherine Tucker (Latin American Studies and Anthropology; Central America, Mexico, and Peru) Ecological and Economic Anthropology, Environmental Governance, Community-Based Conservation, Institutional Analysis, Climate Change Adaptation, Belief Systems, Sustainability
Pilar Useche (Latin American Studies & Food and Resource Economics; Andes and Central America) Land Policy, Natural Resource Economics
Robert Walker (Latin American Studies and Geography; Brazil) Nature-Society Studies Land Change, Geo-spatial Analysis
