Leadership and Staff

Leadership and Staff

The Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS) is the center for research, teaching and discussion on Latin America at Columbia University. Its main goal is to bring together and provide resources for Columbia faculty, students and visiting scholars, recognizing the diversity of their interests and approaches while strengthening their links with Latin America and with communities of Latin American origin in the United States.

ILAS Director

Center and Program Directors

A man, Paulo Blikstein, wearing a pink button up shirt smiles into the camera.
Paulo Blikstein

Director, Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies

Nara Milanich is wearing a blue shirt and a striped blue and green scarf. She has her curly hair on a bun and is wearing glasses.
Nara Milanich

Director, Center for Mexico and Central America

Frances is wearing a navy blue and long-sleeve shirt.
Frances Negron-Muntaner

Director, Greater Caribbean Studies Program

Staff

Gustavo Azenha
Gustavo S. Azenha

ILAS Executive Director, Director of Graduate Studies

A woman with dark shoulder-length hair and wearing a brightly colored blouse smiles slightly into the camera.
Eliza Kwon-Ahn

Senior Manager of Business and Student Affairs

Black and white picture of Romina wearing a black blazer
Romina Quezada

Program and Outreach Manager

Sócrates Silva
Sócrates Silva

Latin American Bibliographer

Student Staff

Bahia is wearing a white blazer and a black top.
Bahía Gatti

Program Assistant

Camila is smiling at the camera in front of a street full of trees. She has curly dark hair and is wearing a white shirt.
Camila Braga

Administrative Assistant

Picture of Pedro wearing a suit and standing in front of blue background
Pedro Giestas

Social Media Assistant

Jose La Rosa. He is has dark short hair, and is wearing glass and a blue and white shirt. He is tanding in front of Low Steps.
Jose La Rosa

K-12 Outreach Program Coordinator

Ann Wang wearing a white blouse standing in front of a blurry green background.
Ann Wang

Social Media Assistant

Sofia has dark brown hair, which she has on a ponytail in this picture. She is wearing a dark shirt and a black leather jacket, and golden hoop earrings. The background is the sky and some trees.
Sofia Cruz

Program Assistant, Regional Center for Mexico and Central America

Sofia standing in front of a blue background
Sofia Covarrubias

Administrative Assistant

Lloxci is wearing a white sweater.
Lloxci López

Financial Assistant

Executive Committee

Alexander Alberro
Alexander Alberro

Virginia Bloedel Wright '51 Professor of Art History,
Barnard College

Mauricio Cardenas
Mauricio Cardenas

Professor of Professional Practice in Global Leadership; Director, MPA in Global Leadership

Daniel Friedrich
Daniel Friedrich

Associate Professor of Curriculum,
Teachers College

Maja Horn
Maja Horn

Chair, Department of Spanish and Latin American Cultures,
Associate Professor of Spanish and Latin American Cultures

M. Victoria Murillo
M. Victoria Murillo

Professor of Political Science and International and Public Affairs, Department of Political Science

Frances Negrón-Muntaner
Frances Negrón-Muntaner

Professor of English and Comparative Literature, Department of English and Comparative Literature

Benjamin S. Orlove
Benjamin S. Orlove

Professor of International and Public Affairs, School International and Public Affairs

Jorge Otero-Pailos is standing in front of a wall. He wears a black suit.
Jorge Otero-Pailos

Professor of Architecture, Planning and Preservation - GSAPP

Caterina Pizzigoni is sitting down. She is wearing a pink shirt and black pants.
Caterina Pizzigoni

Associate Professor,
Department of History

Jorge is wearing a black blazer with a blue shirt underneath.
Jorge Guzman
Jorge Guzman

Assistant Professor at the Management Division, Columbia Business School

Manuela is wearing a beige turtleneck and a red scarf.
Manuela Orjuela
Manuela Orjuela

Molecular Epidemiologist and Pediatric Oncologist, Columbia Maliman School of Public Health

Columbia Global Centers | Rio de Janeiro

Thomas Trebat
Thomas Trebat

Director; Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs

Teresa Borges
Teresa Borges

Program Manager

Maria Luiza Paranhos
Maria Luiza Paranhos

Project Coordinator

Isabella Pereira is smiling to the camera. She is wearing a dark suit over a white sweater.
Isabella Pereira

Program Assistant

Leticia Katz
Leticia Katz

Communications Officer 

Camila is wearing a black shirt and black blazer.
Camila Pontual
Camila Pontual

Climate Program Manager

Maria is wearing a flower-patterned dress.
Maria Eduarda Vaz
Maria Eduarda Vaz

Communications Consultant

Columbia Global Centers | Santiago

Vivian Fosk
Vivian Fosk

Finance and Operations Manager

Christian Molinari
Christian Molinari

Communications & Programming Officer

Carla is standing in front of a dark background.
Carla Magri

Communications & Programming Coordinator