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

A man wearing a dark shirt and blazer smiles into the camera.
Jose Moya

Director, Greater Caribbean Studies Program

A woman wearing a black-and-white blouse looks into the camera.
Margaret Crahan

Director, Cuba Program

Staff

A man wearing a cardigan smiles into the camera.
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

A man wearing a light blue shirt beneath a dark blue sweater smiles into the camera.
Esteban Andrade

Program and Outreach Manager

Sócrates Silva
Sócrates Silva

Latin American Bibliographer

Student Staff

Camila is smiling for the camera as he stands in front of a white wall. She has brown wavy hair and is wearing a pink floral shirt.
Camila Hidalgo

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

Ana is looking at the camera while slightly turned to the side. She has her dark brown hair in a side part.
Ana Oropeza

Program Assistant, Regional Center for Mexico and Central America

Ana is smiling at the camera in front of a wall with lots of picture frames. She has blond hair and is wearing glasses and a a black shirt.
Ana Cardenas

Program Assistant, Regional Center for Mexico and Central America

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

Black and white photo of Meiyi standing in front of a white background. She is looking to the side towards the camera;
Meiyi Liu

Social Media Assistant - Content Creation

Abby has short, dark curly hair. She is wearing a black shirt. The picture is in black and white.
Abbygale González

Program Assistant, Regional Center for Mexico and Central America

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

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

Nelson M. Fraiman
Nelson M. Fraiman

Professor of Professional Practice in the Faculty of Business,
Graduate School of Business

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

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 

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