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!


 

Caroline Centeno

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 

Learn more about Caroline!


Salenka Chinchin

Hometown: Quito, Ecuador

Education: Bachelor in Liberal Arts at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, minor in Creative Writing

Email: salenkachinchin@ufl.edu

Learn more about Salenka!


Gabriella Garcia-Urbay

Hometown: Miami, FL

Education: English and Spanish Major at the University of Florida

Email: g.garciaurbay@ufl.edu

Learn more about Gabriella!


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!


Jonny Andrés López Lozano

Hometown: Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia

Education: BA in English and French - Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó; MA in Pedagogical Mediation in English Learning (currently coursing) - Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia 

Email: lopezlozanoj@ufl.edu

Learn more about Jonny!


Nicolle Luzardo Moran

Hometown: Guayaquil, Ecuador

Education: Bachelors of Arts in Visual Arts and Emerging Media Management with a minor in Art History

Email: nluzardomoran@ufl.edu 

Learn more about Nicolle!


Elaine Machado

Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Education: Languages and Literature - Portuguese / English

Email: elainemachado@ufl.edu

Learn more about Elaine!


Melisa Mantilla

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

Learn more about Melisa!


Isabel Paz

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

Learn more about Isabel!


Artis Trice

Hometown: Ellenwood, GA

Education: BA in Geography, Minors in Spanish and Environmental Studies, Certificate in Geographic Information Sciences (GIS)

Email: artis.trice@ufl.edu

Learn more about Artis!


Christopher Wilson

Hometown: Callahan, FL 

Education: M.A. International Affairs, B.A. International Studies 

Email: wilson.cl@ufl.edu

Learn more about Christopher!


Ivonne Zelaya

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 

Learn more about Ivonne!