History of Center Directors
Since our founding in 1930, the Center has been led by Directors whose service and legacies have shaped who we are. From the Institute of Inter-American Affairs to the School of Inter-American Studies to the Center of Latin American Studies, these are the Directors who have stewarded the discipline at the University of Florida:
1930 - 1944
Rollin S. Atwood
1931 | The Institute of Inter-American Affairs held its first annual conference.
1945 - 1952
John F. Martin
1951 | The Institute of Inter-American Affairs becomes the School of Inter-American Studies, officially offering the first MALAS degrees.
1952 - 1963
A. Curtis Wilgus
1962 | The SIAS was awarded Title VI funding and named a National Resource Center. It became the Center for Latin American Studies.
Honorary fund: A. Curtis Wilgus Graduate Fellowship
1964 - 1968
Lyle N. McAlister
1964 | The first issue of The Latinamericanist was published.
1969 - 1977
William E. Carter
1972 -1978 | The Secretariat of the Latin American Studies Association was headquartered at the Center.
Honorary fund: Wagley and Carter Endowed Fellowship Fund
1978 - 1980
Ivan A. Schulman
1980 - 1985
Helen I. Safa
The Center's first woman Director
Honorary fund: Safa Graduate Student Travel Endowment
1986 - 1996
Terry McCoy
1992 | The Bacardi Family Eminent Scholar Chair was established.
Honorary fund: McCoy Travel Scholarship Fund
1996 - 2004
Charles Wood
1999 | After nearly two decades of activities and program development, the Tropical Conservation and Development Program was officially established with an endowment fund.
2001 | The Brazilian Music Institute was founded.
2004 - 2009
Carmen Diana Deere
2004 | The Digital Library of the Caribbean was established.
2005 | The Alumni Board was founded.
Honorary fund: Carmen Diana Deere Director’s Fund
2009 - 2019
Philip J. Williams
2010 | The Masters in Development Practice Program was established.
2011 | For its 80th anniversary, the Center received its historical marker on the Plaza of the Americas.
2019 - 2025
Carlos de la Torre
The Center's first director from Latin America, and the first alum to become Center Director
2021 | The Kislak Family Foundation Writer/Artist in Residence was established.
2021-2025 | The Latin American Research Review was housed at the Center.
2025 -
Leonardo A. Villalón
2025 | The Distinguished Lecture of Latin American Archaeology was established.