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: São Paulo, Brazil
Education: Accounting at University of Brasilia
Email: rebecafariaalmon@ufl.edu
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
Hometown: Barrancabermeja, Colombia
Education: B.A. in Anthropology, Universidad de Antioquia
Email: jarciaduran@ufl.edu
Hometown: Brazil
Education: Bachelor in Business Administration
Email: jbenitez1@ufl.edu
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
Hometown: Táchira, Venezuela
Education: B.A. in Psychology from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Caracas, Venezuela
Email: laura.botero@ufl.edu
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
Hometown: Quibdó, Chocó - Colombia
Education: Bachelor's in English and French
Email: sixtachaverramar@ufl.edu
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Education: B.A. in Asian Studies, Williams College; Artist Diploma in Cello Performance, The Boston Conservatory; M.A. in Museum Studies, University of Florida (candidate Fall 2022)
Email: ichen@ufl.edu
Hometown: Newberry, FL
Education: Bachelors of Arts in Political Science, minor in Latin American Studies. Cum Laude. University of Florida
Email: mdelacruzmora@ufl.edu
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
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
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
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
Hometown: Miami, FL
Education: B.A. Anthropology, B.A. Criminology student at the University of Florida
Email: dhernandez5@ufl.edu
Hometown: Bell, FL
Education: B.A. in Criminology, B.S. in Psychology at the University of Florida
Email: joannekreinbihl@ufl.edu
Hometown: Bucaramanga, Colombia
Education: Social Worker, finishing a master's degree in Social Intervention
Email: daniela.lizarazo@ufl.edu
Hometown: Pennsylvania, USA
Education: Honors B.A. in Spanish and Political Science, University of Delaware
Email: cmartins1@ufl.edu
Hometown: Lima, Perú
Education: B.A in Sociology, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Email: rodrigo.mezarina@ufl.edu
Hometown: Gainesville, Florida
Education: B.A. in Philosophy and International Studies, Cum Laude, University of Florida
Email: alfredo.ortiz@ufl.edu
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
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Education: B.A. in Political Science & History, Magna Cum Laude at the University of Florida
Email: janeperez@ufl.edu
Hometown: Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil
Education: Law, Maringá State University
Email: n.quirolli@ufl.edu
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
Hometown: Ciales, Puerto Rico
Education: B.B.A. in International Business, Minor in Religious Studies
Email: diana.rodrigueza@ufl.edu
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
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Education: Bachelor's in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Florida
Email: adriana.sela@ufl.edu
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
Hometown: Lakeland, FL
Education: B.A. in History, Emory University
Email: ttrejomendez@ufl.edu
Hometown: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Education: Law, Federal University of Minas Gerais
Email: t.goncalves@ufl.edu