Celebrating 65 Years of Teaching, Scholarship, and Activism

Flyer promoting the LAS conference

Cal State LA Latin American Studies 1960–2025: Celebrating 65 Years of Teaching, Scholarship, and Activism

Join us as we commemorate 65 years of the Latin American Studies program at Cal State LA, a vibrant history shaped by generations of students, faculty, and community partners committed to equity, critical inquiry, and social transformation. This two-day celebration, Latin American Studies 1960–2025: Celebrating 65 Years of Teaching, Scholarship, and Activism, brings together alumni, current students, and faculty to reflect on the program’s legacy and explore the ongoing struggles for justice across the Américas.

The event will feature panels, plenary sessions, film screenings, and cultural performances, highlighting the intersections of research, art, and activism that have long defined the LAS community. All are welcome to join us on Friday, November 21 at Cal State LA and Saturday, November 22 at the Garment Worker Center in Los Angeles as we honor the program’s past, celebrate its present, and look forward to its future.

For more information, email las@calstatela.edu or call 323-343-2180

Register now

Schedule of Events

(Subject to Change)

Friday Program  Friday Night Cultural Event Program Saturday Program

Day  1  |  Friday,  November  21,  2025

Cal State LA

Day 1 Overview
9:30-10:00amRegistrationKing Hall B 3018
10:00-10:30amWelcomeKing Hall Lecture Hall 2
10:45am-12:00pmBreak Out Session #1King Hall
12:00-1:15pmLunch
1:30-2:45pmPlenary SessionKing Hall Lecture #2
3:00-4:15pmBreak Out Session #2King Hall
4:30-5:45pmBreak Out Session #3King Hall
6:00-7:15pmReception
7:30-10:00pmCultural EventUniversity Student Union Theatre

Break Out Session #1
Immigrant Rights Organizing

  • Moderator: Jeffrey Umaña (LAS M.A. Student)

  • Michelle Caraballo (LAS M.A. 2023)

  • Julie Mitchell (LAS M.A. 2012)

  • Carlos Regalado (LAS M.A. Student)
King Hall Lecture #2

Tenant Rights, Land Struggles in the Américas

  • Moderator: Christian Garcia (LAS M.A. Student)

  • Martha Escudero (LAS M.A. Student)

  • Lindsay Ortega (LAS M.A. 2019)

  • Jimena Lasso (LAS M.A. 2020)

  •  Karla Cativo (LAS M.A. 2014)
King Hall B3008
Guatemala and the Struggle for Social Justice

  • Moderator: Judith Pop (LAS M.A. Student)

  • Nicolás De León (LAS M.A. 2023)

  • Berny Orantes (LAS M.A. 2022)

  • Brandon Sanchez (LAS M.A. 2020)

  • Danny Sanchez (LAS M.A. 2024)

King Hall B3010
Holistic Health and Healing

  • Moderator: Adriana Kahwaji (Anthropology MA Student) 

  • Gabriela Fried (Soc/LAS Professor)

  •  Max Romano  (LAS MA 2025)

  • Claudia Rueda  (LAS BA 2019)

  • Katie Melara  (LAS MA 2022)

  • Diana Lopez  (LAS MA 2014)

King Hall B2008

Plenary Session

LAS Past, Present, and Future

  • Marjorie Bray

  • Bill Bollinger

  • Ericka Verba

  • Gabriela Fried Amilivia

  • Enrique Ochoa

  • Alejandro Villalpando

  • Sandra Gutiérrez de Jesús

King Hall Lecture #2

 

Break Out Session #2
Women and Popular Struggles in Mexico

  • Moderator: Enith Reyes (LAS MA Student)

  • Sandy Gutiérrez de Jesús (CSULA LAS/CLS)

  • Maria Gutiérrez de Jesús (CSU-Bakersfield)

  • Miriam Quezada Hagerman (LAS BA 2005)

  • Teresa Rodriguez-Sotelo (LAS M.A. 2023)

  • Renée Tabizon (LAS MA 2025)

King Hall Lecture #2
Latin American Studies and Arts Activism

  • Moderator: Julieta Ramos (LAS BA Student)

  • Vanessa Camarena-Arredondo (LAS BA 2004)

  • Jimmy Centeno (LAS BA and MA)

  • Alicia Mosely (LAS BA 2018 and MA 2020)

  • Rosa Navarrete (Independent Film Maker)

  • Noemi Mendez-Colon (LASS)

King Hall B3010
Community-Based Mental Health Practices

  • Moderator: Andrew Rojas (LAS MA Student)

  • Andy Alemán (LAS MA 2024)

  • Maria Beltrán (LAS MA 2018)

  • Douglas Ramón (LAS ASC)

  • Jodi Scofield (LAS MA 2021) LCSW, MA (Founder, Abolition is Healing)

King Hall B3008
Student and Alumni Film Screening
  • Eva Rios-Alvarado (LAS MA 2025)
King Hall Lecture Hall 1

Break Out Session #3
Academic Spaces and  Community Struggles

  • Moderator:  Sandra Medina  (LAS MA Student)

  • Daisy Herrera (LAS MA 2012)

  • Stephanie Lemus (LAS MA 2014)

  • Claudia Portillo (LAS M.A. 2016)

  • Frederico Salgado (LAS BA 1994)

  • Elizandro Umaña (LAS MA 2021) 

King Hall B3008
LAS in the Non-Profit Sector and Public Policy

  • Moderator: Alexandria López (LAS MA 2025)

  • Irantzu Pujadas (LAS MA 2011) 

  • David Roman (LAS BA and MA)

  • Maria Samaniego  (LAS MA 2011)

  • Wuendy Zavala (LAS BA 2010)

King Hall B3010
Writing and Teaching Histories of México

  • Moderator: Enrique Ochoa (CSULA)

  • Veronica Castillo-Muñoz (UCSB/LAS MA 1998-99)

  • Eileen Ford (CSULA History)

  • James Mestaz (Sonoma State/LAS MA 1998-99)

  • Oscar Márquez (Cal Poly Pomona (LAS MA 2012)

  • Jaime Pensado (Notre Dame/LAS B.A. 1998 and M.A. 2000)

King Hall Lecture 2
Student and Alumni Film Screening King Hall Lecture Hall 1

Day  2  |  Saturday,  November  22,  2025

Garment Worker Center

3610 San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90011

Day 2 Overview
11:30am-12:00pmRegistration
12:00-1:15pm

Welcome and Plenary Panel

  • LAS in Labor and Community Organizing
1:15-2:30pmBreak Out Sessions #1
2:15-4:00pmBreak Out Session #2
4:00-6:00pmReception and Cultural Event

Plenary Session

LAS in Labor and Community Organizing

  • Rebecca Betancourt  (LAS MA 2023)

  • Sergio Jimenez (LAS B.A. 2020 and LAS M.A. 2023)

  • Marc Krause (LAS M.A. 2017)

  • Alejandro Villalpando (LAS M.A. 2010)

  • Carla Villanueva (LAS 2014)

 

Break Out Session #1
Central American Communities and Movements

  • Moderator: Jaimé Rodriguez  (LAS MA Student)

  • Mario Castañeda (CSULA)

  • Dora Magaña (LASS 1992)

  • Claudia Portillo  (LAS MA 2016)

  • Bryan Solano  (LAS MA 2022)

Teaching at Community Colleges: A How-to Session

  • Moderator: Estefania Gonzalez (LAS MA Student)

  • Jocelyn Duarte (LAS MA 2014) East Los Angeles College)

  • Stephanie Lemus (LAS MA 2014/Orange Coast College)

  • Carlos Ugalde  (LAS MA 1975/Glendale College)

  • Arturo Zepeda (LAS BA 2009/Moor Park College)

Researching Power and Struggle in Latin America

  • Moderator: Lauren Jackson  (LAS MA Student)

  • David Ferrandiz (MA LAS 2024)

  • Gabriela Rodriguez (MA LAS 2009)

  • Freya Rojo (MA LAS 2006)

  • Jasmin Salais (MA LAS 2020)

 

Break Out Session #2
LAS and the Praxis of Music and Movements

  • Moderator: Daniela Lara (LAS MA Student)

  • Paula Ayala (LAS BA and MA 2018)

  • Learsí Martínez (LAS MA 2011)

  • Olmeca (LAS MA 2016)

  • Cindy Reifler-Flores (M.A. LAS 2013)

  • Carlos Somoza  (LAS MA 2023)

  • Ericka Verba (CSULA LAS)

Popular Education in and Out of the Classroom

  • Moderator: Lariissa Lainez (LAS MA Student)

  • Cirilo Duarte (LAS MA 2023)

  • Brianna Fuentes (LAS MA 2022)

  • Ricardo Lopez (LAS MA 2025)

  • Cindy Mata (LAS MA 2021)

  • Ana Orozco (LAS MA 2020)

  • Michiko Soto (LAS MA 2020)

  • Claudia Zepeda (LAS MA 2023)

Parking Information

Friday, November 21

Paid visitor parking is available at Lot C: Campus Map

Saturday, November 22

Parking is free and available at the following parking lots:

  • 3728 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90011
  • 3621 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90011
  • 3727 Mettler St, Los Angeles CA 90011