Celebrating 50 Years: The Making of Latin American and Latino Studies

Celebrating 50 Years: The Making of Latin American and Latino Studies

The UIC Department of Latin American and Latino Studies will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in fall 2024. We are proud to commemorate this exciting milestone. Founded in 1974, the program has become a recognized center of research and learning that educates new generations of leaders in almost every professional area.

We are excited to invite the campus and broader Chicago community to our kick-off event, “Celebrating 50 Years: The Making of Latin American and Latino Studies.” This event will explore the department’s birth out of student and community activism, as well as its development and contributions.

The schedule for the event is as follows:

Panel 1: Founding of LALS

Lilia Fernandez, history professor, UIC

Ada Nivia Lopez, UIC alum, first Latina elected to UI Board of Trustees

Irma Saucedo, UIC alum, student activist, researcher, feminist and filmmaker.

Carlos Heredia, student activist, educator, member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Latino Affairs

Panel 2: Development of LALS

Jonathan Inda, chair and professor of Latin American and Latino Studies, UIC

Mary Kay Vaughan, professor emerita of history, University of Maryland

Amalia Pallares, vice chancellor for inclusive excellence, Arizona State University

Maria de Los Angeles “Nena” Torres, professor of Latin American and Latino Studies, UIC

The event will conclude with a toast, birthday cake and reception.

RSVP for the kick-off event.