UF Center for Latin American Studies
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!
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Education: Bachelor of Arts in History, Minor in Philosophy
Email: almontejoann@ufl.edu
Hometown: Kissimmee, FL
Education: Currently pursuing a B.A. in international studies and a B.A. Portuguese, with minors in economics and Latin American studies at the University of Florida
Email: ccenteno1@ufl.edu
Hometown: Quito, Ecuador
Education: Bachelor in Liberal Arts at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, minor in Creative Writing
Email: salenkachinchin@ufl.edu
Hometown: Santa Cruz, Bolivia / Gainesville, Florida
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Juridical Sciences, with additional studies in Political Communication and Education.
Email: pablohcostas@ufl.edu
Hometown: Cochabamba, Bolivia
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo,” certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Email: tulasicuadros@ufl.edu
Hometown: Leesburg, Virginia
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Double Minor in Educational Technology and Latin American Studies
Email: ndzubin@ufl.edu
Hometown: Chone, Ecuador
Education: BA in Liberal Arts at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, with a concentration in Humanities, and minors in Creative Writing and Literature
Email: figueroa.r@ufl.edu
Hometown: Miami, FL
Education: English and Spanish Major at the University of Florida
Email: g.garciaurbay@ufl.edu
Hometown: Palmetto, Florida
Education: Bachelor of Science in Health Education. Specialization in Community Healyh Promotion
Email: lgarofalo@ufl.edu
Hometown: Gainesville, FL
Education: Bachelor of Arts in English and History, Minor in Latin American Studies
Email: gonzalezeluney@ufl.edu
Hometown: Gainesville, FL
Education: Bachelors of Arts: Latin American Studies with focus area in Latin America; Minor: Political Science
Email: rhidalgo@ufl.edu
Hometown: Bell, FL
Education: B.A. in Criminology, B.S. in Psychology at the University of Florida
Email: joannekreinbihl@ufl.edu
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Education: B.A. in History at the University of Florida, as well as an in progress M.A. in Museum Studies at the University of Florida
Email: isabellaloya@ufl.edu
Hometown: Gainesville, Florida
Education: Currently pursuing an M.A. in Latin American Studies; Master’s in Environmental Law – Federal University of Santa Catarina; Specialist in Environmental Law; and Bachelor’s in Law (Brazil)
Email: vgomesmendes@ufl.edu
Hometown: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Education: Bachelors of Arts in Visual Arts and Emerging Media Management with a minor in Art History
Email: nluzardomoran@ufl.edu
Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Education: Languages and Literature - Portuguese / English
Email: elainemachado@ufl.edu
Hometown: Quito, Ecuador
Education: B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Latin American Studies at Loyola University New Orleans; Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Cornell University
Email: mantilla.mm@ufl.edu
Hometown: Cali, Colombia
Education: B.A. in Social Communication and Journalism - Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Cali, Colombia / Masters in design- Universidad de Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina / Specialist in Creative Writing in New Media - Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Cali, Colombia
Email: ipaz@ufl.edu
Hometown: Ellenwood, GA
Education: BA in Geography, Minors in Spanish and Environmental Studies, Certificate in Geographic Information Sciences (GIS)
Email: artis.trice@ufl.edu
Hometown: Gainesville, Florida
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a minor in Latin American Studies
Email: lydiaweigel@ufl.edu
Hometown: Callahan, FL
Education: M.A. International Affairs, B.A. International Studies
Email: wilson.cl@ufl.edu
Hometown: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Education: B.A. in World Languages and Cultures, Major in French; Minor in Italian at the National Autonomous University of Honduras; M.A. in French and Francophone Studies at the University of Florida
Email: ivonnezelaya@ufl.edu
