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S U SI A L UM NI POST-CONFERENCE GUI DE Februar y 7-13, 2021 United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Institute for Training and Development University of Arizona Miami University

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

TABLE OF CONTENTS About the SUSI Alumni Conference

Welcome to your Alumni Conference

Social Media

Conference Schedule

Project Showcases

Working Groups

Keynote Speakers

ECA Partners

SUSI Directors

SUSI Teams

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

About the SUSI Alumni Conference Greetings SUSI Alumni! It was a pleasure to see so many of you at the various Alumni Conference events that took place from February 7-13, 2021. Staff from the Institute for Training and Development (ITD), The University of Arizona, and Miami University are truly impressed to hear your updates and to witness the work you are doing in the areas of policymaking, women’s leadership, social entrepreneurship and beyond these conference themes! From the collective 12 years of SUSI programming, alumni from 11 of these years, representing 19 different countries, attended. Your Conference attendance was steady throughout the week, both at synchronous sessions and on your own time; working group members, for example, found time to collaborate in order to develop policy recommendations by the end of the week. (See page 18 for details about the web pages they created). It was your enthusiasm and preparation that made this conference what it was! From keynote presentations, to alumni talks and panel discussions, to your participation in the informal spaces including Open Mic and Social Hours, we achieved the conference objectives, as outlined: 1. To unify SUSI alumni and allow them to re-connect and network with each other, and the U.S. staff and faculty that participated in the programs; 2. Highlight the SUSI Student Leaders program administered by ITD, sponsored by ECA and in close collaboration with the U.S. Embassies and highlight program impact for 2021; 3. Reinforce the SUSI themes and continue to deepen understanding of U.S. society and culture. Renew commitment to carry forward the SUSI vision; 4. Produce policy ideas or other alumni produced declarations that communicate to policymakers and other stakeholders the alumni’s dedication toward positive change in the Americas. Please use this Conference Summary for your ongoing learning. Links to the session recordings are available for the content of each strand. Please refer to the YouTube links on the daily schedules, pages 8-14. As always, we love hearing from you about the impact the SUSI program has had on your lives. In case you missed it, here is a short video featuring SUSI alumni discussing the impact of the SUSI program on their lives. Please keep in touch!

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

Welcome to your Alumni Conference Welcome to the 2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders of the Western Hemisphere Alumni Conference! As organizers we are so pleased to be able to provide this opportunity for you to gather, revive the SUSI themes, and reflect and share how SUSI has impacted so many lives. We hope the different conference activities will give you the opportunity to be inspired by your peers, gain new skills and renew your commitment to the SUSI goal of making positive change across the hemisphere! As SUSI alumni you represent a group of over 1200 young leaders from across the western hemisphere; you represent more than 20 countries; you are public policy makers, community organizers, tech innovators, frontline health workers and so much more! You are Afro Latino, Indigenous, LGBTQ, European and Mestizo; your diversity is remarkable. Your common thread is the five incredible, intense but rewarding weeks you experienced in Institutes throughout the U.S. You are committed to social justice, inclusive leadership and most important, a drive to make positive change in your communities, universities and professions. At the same time that this conference is an opportunity to celebrate all that SUSI has accomplished, it is also bittersweet. Normally at this time, ITD, University of Arizona, Miami University and/or other partners would be conducting the 2021 Winter SUSI program for hundreds of university student leaders across the Americas. Instead, due to a sobering and most unwelcome global pandemic, we have been obliged to go virtual. We must acknowledge this reality and view this conference as an opportunity to provide inspiration, knowledge and tools to strengthen our SUSI network and help our hemisphere move forward. We hope you will take advantage of this virtual conference to find new collaborators, extend your knowledge about SUSI themes, and reignite your passion to change the world!!

Dr. Mark Protti Executive Director The Institute for Training and Development (ITD)

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

Welcome to your Alumni Conference Dear SUSI Alumni, We are excited to welcome you to the 2021 SUSI Alumni Conference for Student Leaders from the Western Hemisphere. We hope you enjoy this opportunity to engage again with many longtime friends and colleagues. Above all, we encourage you to continue to stay in touch with your peers, Institute staff and directors, and the U.S. Department of State. ECA is committed to continuing sponsorship of academic programs, such as SUSI, and events, like this one, in order to promote mutual understanding through people-to-people exchanges. Thank you for taking part in this experience and we are looking forward to hearing about your projects and achievements. Dr. José Marrero Program Officer Study of the U.S. Branch, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. State Department

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

SOCIAL MEDIA We are amazed by the support, love and fondness we received from our Instagram and Facebook followers throughout the Conference. ITD, University of Arizona and Miami University are very grateful to you for supporting the SUSI mission. If you watch the recordings of the live sessions, and are moved to comment, you can still post on Social Media using these hashtags: #SUSIAlumniConference, #ExchangeOurWorld and #ExchangeAlumni to continue the conversations with other SUSI Alumni. Feel free to tag and follow us and our partners on your social media posts! fb.com/ExchangeProgramsAtState fb.com/StudyoftheUS fb.com/InternationalExchangeAlumni fb.com/ITDAmherst fb.com/uarizona fb.com/UofALAS fb.com/MiamiUniversity instagram.com/exchangeourworld instagram.com/itdamherst instagram.com/uarizona instagram.com/ua_las instagram.com/miamiuniversity twitter.com/ecaatstate twitter.com/exchangealumni twitter.com/ITDAmherst twitter.com/UArizona twitter.com/UA_LAS twitter.com/miamiuniversity youtube.com/exchangesvideo youtube.com/channel/UChZYUgLEJMpxgEDwIiPW_sw youtube.com/universityofarizona youtube.com/channel/UCDfpHPYmzjP8injpschGjzw youtube.com/miamiuniversity

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

February 2021

Sunday All Participants Meet Together

https://youtu.be/aCqUnqfh5CM

Opening Remarks & Welcome Welcome - Dr. Mark Protti, Executive Director, Institute for Training and Development U.S. Department of State Welcome - Dr. José Marrero, Program Officer, Study of the U.S. Branch, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. State Department. Greetings from Directors of the Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders from 2008 through the present. Icebreaker activity introduced by Ms. Kaye Sherwood, Operations Manager, Institute for Training and Development. Conference objectives and how to make the most of your experience - Professor Marcela Vásquez-León, Director of Latin American Studies, University of Arizona. Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference Overview - Dr. Katie Lazdowski, Program Director, Institute for Training and Development.

The Power of SUSI to Change Lives, a testimonial video with short statements from Alumni Mr. Alejandro Martínez (ITD, 2013), Comm. and Media Manager, Institute for Training and Development. Conference Staff Introductions.

All Working Group Members to Meet Working Groups: Question & Answer Session - Dr. Katie O’Brien, Project Coordinator for the SUSI on Women’s Leadership, University of Arizona.

Dr. Katie O'Brien will explain the mission of the working groups and the tasks you will complete during the week. You will meet members of your working group and coordinate with one another to decide on a daily meeting time that works for everybody in the group. To find out which working group you are in, please see the Working Group pages in this program. Additional information will be provided via email prior to this session. 2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

February 2021

Monday Policymaking

https://youtu.be/p5caZ7Vpme0

Trump's election loss and the future of Trumpism Javier Corrales This keynote will discuss why the defeat of Donald Trump was such an important and historically rare accomplishment, and the future of Trumpism in America.

Women’s Leadership https://youtu.be/WULyWXChhkY

Social Entrepreneurship https://youtu.be/PyYDrty77t0

Feminism in the Americas Marcela Vásquez-León

Why social entrepreneurship? Michael Conger

This keynote will discuss feminism as a social movement that converges and relates with other movements such as environmentalism and anti-racism.

In this talk we will look at social entrepreneurship as a methodology that can be learned and practiced; a perspective and way of operating in a world filled with uncertainty. By re-examining the entrepreneurial aspect of social entrepreneurship, we can better understand the role entrepreneurs can play in making the world a better place.

Prior to this session, please read these two articles- the first is located here, and the second, here.

Alumni Open Mic Immigration and human rights Moderator: Ilan Stavans Panelists will discuss public policy development through a human rights approach from the perspective of El Salvador and Honduras. Abuse of human rights are directly connected to the root causes of immigration and its consequences throughout the region.

Panelists: Karla Castillo (ITD, 2012) Diana Yenifer Servellon (ITD, 2014) Prior to this session, please read this article and this resource, and review this PowerPoint.

The participation of Afro-Ecuadorian women in ethno-education Daniela Villalba (UAZ, 2018) This session discusses the contribution of Afro-Ecuadorian women to ethnoeducation from historical perspectives to current day. Prior to this session, please review this resource.

COVID-19: Challenges and opportunities for social entrepreneurship Fabián Chacón Labrador (Miami, 2018) The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the inequality gap in our region and has posed different challenges for those responsible for leading different social projects or formulating public policies. This presentation will elucidate those challenges and propose solutions to them from different approaches.

Alumni Social Hour

Theme for the evening: Gather with program year colleagues!

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

February 2021

Tuesday Policymaking

Women’s Leadership

https://youtu.be/-JDY2fTlNNg

US/Latin American relations under President Biden Michael Shifter What implications will the Biden presidency have for US foreign policy, particularly in Latin America? Prior to this session, please read this article.

Social Entrepreneurship

https://youtu.be/X_ZU4eipsOY

https://youtu.be/z-Z_4FCXMBE

You are more than the worst The use of social science tools to thing you've ever done empower women in their social activism work Patrick Davis Irma Velasquez Nimatuj This presentation will explore Patrick's journey from incarceration to pastor to I will share my experience providing cultural expertise for the trial of the women social entrepreneur. Patrick will illustrate how his unique social enterprise is of Sepur Zarco, Izabal, who were victims of making redemption and rehabilitation sexual and labor slavery, held in 2016. I possible through job training and support will address the methodology, the programs for individuals that were frameworks and the use of anthropological formerly incarcerated. and social science tools to support the struggle for transitional justice in Please see The Fringe Coffee House Guatemala. website, and watch Patrick's story.

Alumni Open Mic Human rights: Challenges faced Social justice and Afrolatinidad panel by women and the indigenous Moderator: José Amador community This panel will incorporate diverse Gelga Mercedes Guainer (UAZ, 2018) perspectives acquired through the participants' projects to address the afrolatino In this space I invite you to focus on This panel will discuss environmental experience. It will deal with afrolatina voices, yourself, as a person and subject of policy changes in the areas of climate, communication and social change in rights. It should be noted the importance sustainable agriculture, water management of giving value to women and indigenous afrolatino communities and education. and forest conservation both in terms of women, for that we are here, to begin to Panelists: the urgency and challenge of reaching an reflect on that and much more. Think Thays Parfait (Miami, 2019) international coordinated approach. beyond food, shelter and work, to feel Jhonier Perea (Miami, 2019) that we feel here, in our women's hearts. Nicolás Bahamonde (ITD, 2020) Panelists: Dixon Nohel Morales (ITD, 2014) Resources: Gustavo Amaro Zahuantitla (UAZ, 2012) Reading 1, Reading 2, Reading 3, Jinson Fernández (Miami, 2019) Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, Video 4 Urgency and challenge of achieving environmental protection and reducing the impact of the climate crisis Moderator: Alberto Arenas

Alumni Social Hour

Theme for the evening: Gather with country colleagues!

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

February 2021

Wednesday

Policymaking

https://youtu.be/O4lcZ8kbV1I

Women’s Leadership https://youtu.be/srTl181lE0Y

Towards the frontiers of Open Government Rosario Pavese (ITD, 2010)

How to combat anti-blackness in the context of Mestizaje Antonio Bacelar de Silva

The Open Government paradigm is a reality that has come to stay, and the pandemic has demonstrated that its values are fundamental and its practices constitute a necessary and urgent solution. In this session we will explore the concept and values related to Open Government.

This keynote will address anti-racist approaches in our everyday interactions.

Social Entrepreneurship https://youtu.be/GecfHIBmLNg Towards a critical redefinition of the concepts of innovation and leadership in the context of ecological and social crisis Luis Ignacio Pradanos This presentation will advocate to redefine what we understand by innovation and leadership in the current social, economic and ecological context. We will examine what skills and practices leaders should learn, cultivate and develop, and perhaps more importantly, which ones they should unlearn.

Alumni Open Mic Policymaking post-COVID19 The denial of black identity in Emberá Querá Abya Yala Militza Flaco (Miami, 2018) Moderator: Javier Corrales Alma María Areco (UAZ, 2020) Due to the pandemic, policymakers Militza is President of the Organization of throughout Latin America and the public How many times do we hear that in Latin Emberá and Wounaan Youth of Panama sector face their biggest challenge in America we are all mixed-race? That there is (OJEWP). OJEWP is made up of young generations. Facing health crises, economic no white, neither the indigenous nor the professionals from their nations. The collapse, social and political disruption, this black. How often are these comments from activities we carry out promote development panel examines what the pandemic has people who are socially read as white? The initiatives in indigenous communities and done and what it means for the future. denial of blackness in Latin America has left rural areas of Panama. serious consequences that has cut the Panelists: identity expressions of an entire people Carolina Zaccato (ITD, 2015) Prior to this session, please review this which, little-by-little, reconstructs its history Fernando Caro Bruna (ITD, 2008) PowerPoint presentation. from its own voice. Ulises Carcamo Fahnert (ITD, 2012) Prior to this session, please read this Please view this prerecording, join article. code: 7b3a0110, and watch this clip.

Alumni Social Hour

Theme for the evening: Choose from an offering of discussion topics!

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

February 2021

Thursday

Policymaking

https://youtu.be/9RTPTK3ywjg

The participation of judges in the elaboration of public policies Carlos Noble (ITD, 2013) Judges must often decide the specific scope of constitutional rights, and many times they end up, intentionally or not, defining public policies and budget priorities from a court. It is necessary, from a democratic and republican point of view, to question what the role of the judges should be in these cases.

Women’s Leadership https://youtu.be/KpAwemjPxzY The green tide: Legalization of abortion in Argentina Cora Fernández Anderson

Social Entrepreneurship https://youtu.be/Qa2d6OBKrXc The work of Socialab Alejandra Rossi (Miami, 2008)

In this session, we will get to know the The recent legalization of abortion in work of Socialab, an organization that is Argentina shows the relevance of social building the pipeline of social enterprises movements in advancing social change. in LATAM, with over a million users that Without the presence of a strong abortion have proposed 80,000+ social innovation rights movement that framed the issue as ideas. We will see how an entrepreneur such, placed it in the national agenda and takes a social project from an idea to a raised awareness about it, policy change reality and what he/she can do to would not have been possible. implement it as a social enterprise.

Alumni Open Mic Panel: Youth leader and community Women advocating: Knocking engagement through education, down traditional mandates communication and policy through social initiatives Panelists from Panama, Guatemala and Moderator: Ricardo Sosa Argentina will share their efforts towards Blanca Jaqueline Santaella (UAZ, 2016) In this panel we will discuss ways in which Open Government, civic participation and The government initiatives of these times youth leaders can be powerful change agents international cooperation. Good governance must be oriented to the promotion of social in their communities by leveraging effective and public trust are fundamental to a ideas for the generation of high impact communication strategies coupled with functional democracy, economic projects that allow for development and technology and education to empower development, and accountability. prosperity. This session will discuss how the community members, including those who Panelists: solidarity of womens' actions can offer are members of marginalized groups. Daniel Barría Yorins (Denver, 2017) development opportunitites to the entire Panelists: Carlos García Robles (ITD, 2018) community. Jorge Barragán (Miami, 2018) Julieta Zelicovich (ITD, 2008) Roger Celi (Miami University, 2018) Jorge Morales (Miami, 2019) Resources: PowerPoint, Resource 1, Resource 2, Resource 3. Please see this resource. Good governance panel Moderator: Javier Corrales

Alumni Social Hour

Theme for the evening: Choose from an offering of discussion topics!

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

February 2021

Friday

Policymaking

Women’s Leadership

https://youtu.be/pFxRurvuBuI

Human rights in Venezuela Victor Navarro (ITD, 2017) This session will discuss human rights in Venezuela. Victor will share his personal story and his effort to illuminate the abuse of human rights in Venezuela.

Social Entrepreneurship

https://youtu.be/r0bPFl3Umqc

https://youtu.be/-Us6srtPZfk

Environmental/eco-feminism activism Marianela Chamorro

Communication as a key tool in projects and social causes Shirley Santana (Miami, 2019)

This session will discuss the manifestation of feminism in South America, and its intersection with environmentalism. It will explore the social movements of women in areas affected by environmental damage.

In this session we will learn the tools to convey our ideas and be able to convince the public, investor, or potential collaborator of the impact we want to generate. We will discuss the fundamentals of public speaking, business pitch, content creation for effective communication adapted to any context.

Alumni Open Mic Language policy panel Moderator: Jesus Acosta

Community work as a way of life Daniela Lopez Carreto (UAZ, 2019)

The panel aims to raise awareness of the importance of learning and using indigenous languages in rural and urban cultural contexts. Participants will understand the importance of learning and maintaining an indigenous language, as well as identifying the main concepts that are required to build intercultural societies.

Panelists: Severo Puc (ITD, 2008) Adriana Roque Corona (ITD, 2008)

Donation Club: How to create a community with your donors Bianca Mariano Porto (ITD, 2019)

This presentation will introduce you to some of the realities in Afro-Mexican In this session we will discuss how to communities from an anti-racist, feminist strategically fundraise with your and decolonial approach. The community community or organization using the work that will be exhibited is carried out fundamentals of the New Power. Discover by a group of young people from the how to empower people and show them Coyolillo community, who recognize how feeling part of something can make themselves as descendants of people their work stronger and more effective. who were enslaved. This community will help us learn about what’s possible. Let’s create communities of people intended to generate positive impact in our world!

Alumni Social Hour

Theme for the evening: Charla with Program Directors!

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

February 2021

Saturday

All Participants Meet Together

https://youtu.be/OLBxQ41EGoc

A week in review - Dr. Mark Protti

Public Policy Working Group Presentations

Women’s Leadership Working Group Presentations

Social Entrepreneurship Working Group Presentations

Moderator: Mark Protti

Moderator: Marcela Vásquez-León

Moderator: Heather Harper

Question and answer forum with Project Showcase presenters Moderator: Dr. Jesus Acosta

Closing remarks - Professor Marcela Vásquez-León, Professor Juan Carlos Albarrán, Dr. Mark Protti.

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

PROJECT SHOWCASES During the conference week alumni were encouraged to view the Project Showcases that feature alumni research projects, projects “from the field”, or a summary of a completed mini grant project pertaining to one or more of the conference themes. Alumni then convened for a question and answer session with the Project Showcase presenters on Saturday, February 13, 2021 (see page 14 for link). Project Showcase presentations are housed at https://flipgrid.com. Enter the code itd4502. To access this site, you will need to sign in with a gmail account. If you do not have one, please create one and provide it to katie@itdamherst.org to be granted access.

NAME

INSTITUTE

YEAR

COUNTRY

TITLE OF PROJECT

Luz Maribel León Gualan

UAZ

2019

Ecuador

Political Culture in the Community

Maria Eduarda Marszalec Flavia Medeiros Caliel Calves

ITD

2018

Brazil

And together, we are changing education, scenario in Brazil --explicaENEM

Vilma Cabascango Lima

ITD

2016

Ecuador

EmpoEDUCATE, is an intellectual development project for children between 10 and 16 years of age

Lusbey Méndez Santiz

North Carolina 2012 Central University

México

Midwifery and Traditional Medicine

Denny Cepeda Pina

Miami University

2019

Give me the chance to be a girl República Dominicana

Josué Berrú

St. Bonaventure University

2013

Ecuador

Mental Health and LGTBIQ + population

Sally Maheli Camayo Valdes UAZ

2020

Perú

Pandemic revolution

Miguel Cruz Vázquez

UAZ

2017

México

Management of biocultural resources for food in two indigenous communities of “La Sierra del Totonacapan Veracruzano”

Michael Cañon Paredes

Miami University

2018

Colombia

Mangua Ecological Festival

Eliane Anel Narro Lobato

UAZ

2020

Perú

Never again in silence

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

PROJECT SHOWCASES

NAME

INSTITUTE

YEAR

COUNTRY

TITLE OF PROJECT

Abigail Marisol Chambi Choque

UAZ

2017

Bolivia

Reframe Tarija

María Consuelo Escribano Martínez

Wheelock College

2012

Argentina

ReinventarTEC – Webinar cycle

Luis Manuel Mora

UAZ

2013

México

Actions for the cultural heritage of a Nahua community in “La Sierra de Puebla”

Esther Genao

Metropolitan State University of Denver

2016

República Open Congress Dominicana

Doménica N. Garzón

Miami University

2018

Ecuador

Water for all communities in Ecuador -Water Y-

Carlos Flores Quispe

Miami University

2015

Bolivia

Proyecto Apakuy Andean Style

Jermani Ojeda Ludena

UAZ

2009

Perú

Quechua Tinkuy Apurimac Revitalization of Quechua language in Peru

Ximena Lainfiesta

UAZ

2013

Guatemala

Mielenaria - Quauhtlemallan Ancestral Honey - Fair Trade in Guatemala

Jacqueline Pantoja Salgado

UAZ

2018

Bolivia

Behavioral economics in public policy

Eva Basilio Gonzalez

UAZ

2014

México

Program of tools for the political incidence of indigenous youth

Marjorie Paola Paredes Ochoa

UAZ

2020

Perú

Women in politics

Patricia Janeth Rengel

ITD

2017

Ecuador

ConCiencia – For Women in STEM

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

WORKING GROUPS Over the course of the conference week, working groups of six to ten alumni met independently from the rest of the conference. Each day they reflected on an issue pertaining to policymaking, women’s leadership or social entrepreneurship in their respective regions. Through discussion with one another, and by drawing on their experience, each group crafted policy ideas aimed to address the issues. The google page each working group developed shares their policy recommendations. To view their pages, please go to the following sites: Policymaking https://sites.google.com/email.arizona.edu/susipolicymaking/home Women's Leadership https://sites.google.com/email.arizona.edu/susiwomensleadership/home

Social Entrepreneurship https://sites.google.com/email.arizona.edu/susisocialentrepreneurship/home

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Antonio José Bacelar da Silva is a professor at the Center for Latin American Studies of the University of Arizona, where he also earned his Ph.D. in linguistic anthropology at the School of Anthropology. His research focuses on the issues of language, race, and anti-racism.

Marianela Chamorro is a Masters student in Latin American Studies at the University of Arizona. She examines social movements of women in areas affected by high environmental damage in Chile. She has worked as an assistant to the SUSI Institute of Leadership for Indigenous and Afro-descendant Latin American Women.

Michael Conger is Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Farmer School of Business at Miami University in Ohio. His research and teaching focus on how entrepreneurial action can contribute to solving social and environmental problems and the ways in which social enterprises are changing the role of business and organizations in society.

Patrick Davis is an activist, musician, poet, hip hop artist and speaker who has toured extensively throughout Australia, England, Ireland, Amsterdam and the United States. He is the lead pastor of The Fringe Church and the owner of The Fringe Coffee House in Hamilton, Ohio. The Fringe Coffee House is a social enterprise that provides employment and support to individuals transitioning back to society after incarceration.

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Cora Fernández Anderson is Assistant Professor of Politics at Mount Holyoke College. Her research explores social movements and reproductive rights in Latin America. She is the author of Fighting for Abortion Rights in Latin America: Social Movements, State Allies and Institutions (Routledege 2020).

Victor Navarro is a defender of human rights. Victor was detained for 5 months in El Helicoide, the largest torture center in Latin America. He is working on the creation of a virtual museum of human rights in Venezuela where he addresses crimes against humanity in his country.

Carlos Noble is a professor of philosophy of law at the University of the Republic and has a master's degree in legal argumentation from the University of Leon, Spain. He also is a judge in the Judicial Power of Uruguay.

Rosario Pavese is the Senior Country Support Coordinator for the Americas - Open Government Partnership (OGP) where she facilitates learning and exchange about open government with countries throughout South America. Prior to joining OGP, Rosario worked toward open and transparent government for the city of Buenos Aires. She is currently working on her graduate degree in political science at the Universidad de San Martin. She participated in SUSI 2010 at ITD.

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Luis I. Prádanos (Iñaki) is a senior lecturer in Hispanic Cultural Studies at Miami University. His field of research includes ecocriticism, environmental humanities, degrowth, political ecology, and counter-hegemonic culture. Iñaki is the author of Postgrowth Imaginaries. New Ecologies and Counterhegemonic Culture in Post-2008 Spain.

For over a decade Alejandra Rossi has managed social impact projects focused on economic development, social innovation, and education. She currently serves as the executive director for Socialab Uruguay. She earned her MBA from Duke University and has worked for various organizations and has led projects with rural women in South India and healthcare ventures in Kenia. She is co-founder of Enseña Uruguay and tanrara.org. Based in the Domincan Republican, Shirley Santana is a broadcaster, youth promoter of Agenda 2030, and a student of Economics at the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo, with experience in radio and television, written press and digital media. She has professional experience in strategic planning, finance, and consulting with private companies and the public sector. Her vocation of service has led her to collaborate with various non-governmental organizations focused on issues of education, youth, childhood, communities in vulnerable socioeconomic conditions and Sustainable Development Goals. Michael Shifter is president of the Inter-American Dialogue. Shifter writes and talks widely on US-Latin American relations and hemispheric affairs. His recent articles have appeared in a wide array of publications including The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Financial Times, Journal of Democracy, Harvard International Review and in newspapers and journals in Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Chile, Panama, Argentina and Brazil. Irma Alicia Velásquez Nimatuj is a Maya-K’iche’ social anthropologist and journalist. In 2002 she played a key role in the historical process of setting legal precedent through a court case that made racial discrimination illegal in Guatemala. She is the author of “La justicia nunca estuvo de nuestro lado”: Peritaje Cultural sobre conflicto y violencia sexual en el caso Sepur Zarco, Guatemala (2019), “Lunas y Calendarios”and many others.

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

ECA PARTNERS Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, José Marrero has over twenty years of experience in academic exchanges. Jose has worked in universities in the United States, such as Indiana University and the University of Pennsylvania where he serve as Associate Director of the Huntsman Program. José joined ECA in 2011 and currently works with exchange programs for the Western Hemisphere, the Middle East and Global Scholars. He holds a master from Middlebury College in Vermont and a PhD from Indiana University.

SUSI DIRECTORS Juan Carlos Albarrán is faculty in the Global and Intercultural Studies (GIC) Department and the Latin American, Latino/a, and Caribbean Studies (LAS) Program at Miami University Ohio. He has directed the Social Entrepreneurship SUSI Summer Program since 2018. His emphasis is mentoring and empowering the youth in Latin America, and the Latinx population in the U.S., to become the leaders of the future in areas of sustainability, racial equality, and community development. Alberto Arenas is Associate Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Education at the College of Education at the University of Arizona. He specializes in the connections between pedagogy and environmental sustainability; experiential education, with an emphasis on vocational education; and the decolonization of education with a focus on restoring culturally-rich, non-commodified knowledge and skills. Michelle Barthelemy is a tenured faculty member in Greenfield Community College's business department. She is an active participant in campus life and community organizations, and supports students’ efforts to compete in local entrepreneurship initiatives. Michelle directs the winter SUSI on social entrepreneurship since.

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

SUSI DIRECTORS Javier Corrales is Dwight W. Morrow 1895 Professor and Chair of Political Science at Amherst College. His most recent book is Fixing Democracy. He is currently working on a project on democratic backsliding in Latin America.

Jim Hamrick is the former Director of the English Language Institute at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. While there he was involved in numerous SUSI programs- serving students from Pakistan, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. He retired from the University late last year and is now involved in teaching English to adult immigrants and refugees in Knoxville.

Dr. Janelle M. Johnson is an Associate Professor of STEM Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her research focus is crossdisciplinary inclusive STEM teaching and learning to close opportunity gaps. Prior, she taught Math and Science to multilingual students in Guatemala and in Arizona.

Professor Bruce Laurie is a historian of the United States who spent his entire career at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, retiring in 2007. He is the author of several books and many articles on labor, abolitionism, and modern conservatism. Since 2005 he has served as academic director of several ITD programs.

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

SUSI DIRECTORS Maddalena Marinari is associate professor of history at Gustavus Adolphus College. She has written extensively on immigration restriction, U.S. immigration policy, and immigrant mobilization. Her recent book explores Italian and Jewish mobilization against restrictive immigration laws from 1882 to 1965.

Abril Navarro was the lead director from ITD on all the SUSI programs from 2017 to 2020. She is currently working at Smith College as an Instructional Technology Specialist. Abril is pursuing a Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics at the University of Massachusetts where her research focuses on assessment tools for non-native speakers, and measuring proficiency based on different variables. Additionally, Abril is an advocate on language policy issues, bringing awareness on language discrimination and dismantling language standard expectations. Phillip G. Payne is a professor of history at St. Bonaventure University, where he has taught since 1998. Professor Payne teaches a wide variety of courses in United States, public, and digital history. He is the author of multiple books and articles on diverse topics. You can learn more at https://www.historyprofessorpayne.com.

Marcela Vásquez-León is director of the Center for Latin American Studies and professor at the School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona. She directs the SUSI Leadership Institute for Indigenous and Afro-descendant Women. She teaches classes on conflict and the environment in Latin America; ethnographic methodology, violence and social implications of drug trafficking. Her academic research focuses on rural Latin America; grassroots development and collective action; social vulnerability to climate change; and migration and border studies.

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

SUSI TEAMS - ITD Mark Protti, Executive Director Katie Lazdowski, Program Director Edgardo Rothkegel, Financial Director Kaye Sherwood, Office and Facilities Manager Alejandro Alfaro Martínez, Communications and Media Manager Yanara Barriga, Office Manager

SUSI TEAMS - UAZ Marcela Vásquez-León, Program Director Jesus Acosta, Program Coordinator Katie O’Brian, Program Coordinator Clea Conlin, Zoom Coordinator Kristal Ambar Natera, Zoom Technical Support David Thalenberg, Zoom Technical Support

SUSI TEAMS - MIAMI U. Juan Carlos Albarrán, Program Director Heather Harper, Program Coordinator Ricardo Sosa, Program Coordinator

CONFERENCE INTERPRETERS Carla Suarez - Elena Igartuburu - Patricia Aijure Maria Eugenia Medina - Yvette Citizen - Nicholas Magnolia

2021 Study of the U.S. Institutes Alumni Conference

S U S I AL UM N I POST-CONFERENCE GUI DE Februar y 7-13, 2021 United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Institute for Training and Development University of Arizona Miami University