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CLAS 5OTH ANNIVERSARY This past academic year marked a monumental milestone for the Center for Latin American Studies as it was with great joy and pride that we celebrated the 50th anniversary of this important pillar of culture and academia within the Stanford community. Deserving nothing less than a most auspicious celebration, we held four events of historical significance (as this was the first time in the history of this institution that any such events occurred) to help us reflect back and take stock of all that CLAS has achieved in its five-decade lifespan, as well as all that it represents moving towards the future. This anniversary signified a pivotal moment in the academic life of the Center, as well as for the university at large. During all its years of service to the community, CLAS has experienced a dramatic transformation, from a modest program, to a fully formed, strong interdisciplinary unit, which is currently recognized as a National Resource Center for Latin American studies and languages. This time was also a wonderful and unique opportunity for us to highlight the role of our many generous benefactors, without whom the development and longevity of many of our programs might not have come to fruition or allowed CLAS to grow into the mature academic unit it has now become (see attached program details). — Professor Rodolfo Dirzo, CLAS Director
LIBRARY EVENT OCTOBER 22, 2015
The Ford Foundation grant received by CLAS in 1965 highlighted the Library as an integral part of the Center. For this reason, the second event was a celebration of 50 years of cooperation between the Stanford Libraries and the Center for Latin American Studies. This celebration, held in the Rotunda of Green Library, included talks by Michael Keller, Rodolfo Dirzo and Adan Griego. Collectively, the Latin American holdings at Stanford represent one of the most dynamic library collections in the country. Stanford’s vast research collections have also been noted in the Center’s successful awards as a National Research Center from the Department of Education’s Title VI funding since the 1980s. This constantly growing collection serves the Center’s MA program and the teaching/research needs of the more than 50 campus-wide faculty, as well as many visiting scholars from throughout Latin America. Top row, left to right: Rodolfo Dirzo, Alberto Díaz Cayeros, and Héctor Hoyos; Jalisco harpist William Faulkner Second and third rows: Historical materials exhibited at Green Library, curated by Adan Griego, Curator for Latin American, Iberian & Mexican American Collections 2
GALA
SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
During the gala event, we had two orators well versed on Latin America and of world-class intellectual caliber share their knowledge and expertise with us regarding the challenges and opportunities facing this region now and in the future. For all those in attendance (students, faculty, generous benefactors, and members of the community at large) it was our great privilege and honor to receive the vast wealth of knowledge of the President of Peru, Dr. Alejandro Toledo, and Arturo Sarukhán, former Ambassador of Mexico in the U.S
50th Anniversary of the Foundation of The Center for Latin American Studies Gala Dinner September 25, 2015
Salutations Rodolfo Dirzo, Director, Center for Latin American Studies Opening Remarks John Etchemendy, Provost, Stanford University Norman Naimark, Director, Stanford Global Studies “Latin America; Looking Inward, Looking Outward” Arturo Sarukhan, Former Mexican Ambassador to the United States
Top row: Carlos Ponce Martinez, Eliane Karp-Toledo, Alejandro Toledo, Rodolfo Dirzo, Guillermina Gómez, Arturo Sarukhán Second row: Provost John Etchemendy; Jean MacDonell; Arturo Sarukhán; William Durham, Rodolfo Dirzo, Peter Bing Third row: Elizabeth Sáenz-Ackermann, Monica Miller-Walsh, Alexander Walsh
“Latin America in the Developed World Economy, and the Role of Education and Academic Institutions” Alejandro Toledo, Former President of Peru Closing remarks Rodolfo Dirzo
Fourth row: Judy Schiffner, Herb Klein
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DIRECTORS MEETING NOVEMBER 2, 2015
Our third event consisted of a great and epic gathering, where CLAS Directors from universities throughout the country came together to collectively reflect upon the significance of the study of and education on Latin America for the U.S. and the world at large. Echoing the great Greek or Roman councils of old, this was an intellectual endeavor aimed at finding new ways in which Centers for Latin American Studies can strengthen the complex and challenging interdisciplinary study that is the Latin American region. At the end of this two-day forum we began drafting a document aimed at becoming a publishable paper on the role of Centers for Latin American Studies in the appreciation of the Latin American Region in the 21st Century.
Above, top row: Scott Morgenstern, Rodolfo Dirzo, Rebecca Horn, Ted Fischer, Ramona Perez, Scott Whiteford, Anke Birkenmaier, Brian D. Farrell, Lenny UreĂąa Valerio, Charles Hale, Dionicia Ramos, Kevin Terraciano Second row: Rebecca Horn; Anke Birkenmaier; Kevin Terraciano 4
Above, top to bottom: Charles Hale; Ramona Perez; Ted Fischer; Scott Morgenstern; Harley Shaiken
FORMER DIRECTORS EVENT NOVEMBER 3, 2015 Lastly, for our closing event, we put together a nostalgic journey through the decades, reflecting back on all the key moments that helped the Center advance and thrive, taking the time of course, to recognize our previous CLAS directors for their formidable efforts in shaping our Center into the mature institution it has now become. CLAS Tinker Visiting Professor and renowned Mexican screenwriter Juan Carlos Rulfo produced a short film for the center to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Center for Latin American Studies, which CLAS debuted during this final event. The film can be viewed and shared at https://vimeo.com/143983034.
Above, top row: Terry Karl, George Collier, Jorge Ruffinelli, Rodolfo Dirzo Second row: Cristina Meneghetti, Norman Naimark Third row: Jorge Ruffinelli, Rodolfo Dirzo; Dean Richard Saller Fourth row: William Durham; Rodolfo Dirzo
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Stanford University
CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES Stanford University 582 Alvarado Row Stanford, California 94305 las.stanford.edu
Cover image: Diversity of maize races from Mexico. Courtesy of José Sarukhán, CONABIO, Mexico.