UW-Whitewater hosts North Central Council of Latin Americanists conference Oct. 31 to Nov. 1

October 31, 2008

More than 90 scholars from Latin America will attend the North Central Council of Latin Americanists (NCCLA) conference at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Oct. 31 through Nov. 1.

The NCCLA is a scholarly organization of researchers who work with and teach about Latin American topics. It is dedicated to research and teaching about Latin America and the Caribbean. The strength of NCCLA lies in its engaged membership network of academics, students and other professionals from the upper Midwest.

“Holding the NCCLA conference at UW-Whitewater will present our campus and community an opportunity to enter a scholarly international dialogue without leaving home,” said Pilar Melero, treasurer-elect of NCCLA.

Ted Fischer, a professor at Vanderbilt University, will give his keynote address at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 in the Fern Young Terrace. His speech is titled, “Markets, Moralities and Maya Farmers.”

Three scholars from the Universidad Autonoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca (UABJO) will be in attendance at the conference. UW-Whitewater recently signed an exchange agreement with this university from Oaxaca, Mexico.  The scholars are here to meet faculty and students to further the exchange. The visiting professors are:

• Maria Isabel Ocampo Tallavas
• Mario Lopez
• Juan Jorge Bautista Gomez

“The participation of these three professors represents UW-Whitewater’s growing efforts to cultivate scholarly exchanges between our university and enrich the international curriculum on campus,” said Seth Meisel, UW-Whitewater history department chair and president of the NCCLA.

UW-Whitewater faculty and students will also participate in the conference. Both groups will take part in discussions as panelists and presenters. Discussion topics include, “Migration and its Social, Economic and Political Consequences,” “Cultural Crossroads: A look at intercultural relationships through art, language and folk tales,” and “Populist Governments and Political Reform,” Faculty presenters include:

• Pilar Melero, languages and literatures
• Nayla Chehade, languages and literatures
• James P. Winship, social work
• JoEllen Burkholder, sociology, anthropology and criminal justice
• Bert Kreitlow, history
• Jodie Parys, languages and literatures

The students will present their research and creative activity at various panel sessions also. The seven students presenting in the conference are:

• Jessica Makely, senior
• Maria Rodriguez, junior
• Jazmin Castellanos, senior
• Estela Cabrera, senior
• Rico Torres, senior
• Brian McGee, senior
• Anastacio Aranda, senior

“The high number of student presenters illustrates the great interest and achievements of campus students working on Latin America topics,” added Meisel.

All presentations are open to the public. For more information, contact Seth Meisel, meisels@uww.edu  or 262-472-5150.

The Provost’s Office, the College of Letters and Sciences and the departments of history and languages and literatures at UW-Whitewater are providing support for the conference.