Photo by Jeff Watts

AU faculty, staff and students, as well as guest from other academic institutions, policymaking bodies, community organizations, and NGOs, attended the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies launch reception on Tuesday, March 16 at the Katzen Center for the Arts. University President Neil Kerwin and Provost Scott Bass spoke about the importance of the Center as a hub for scholarly work on Latin America and Latino communities in the US, and CLALS inaugural Director Prof. Eric Hershberg outlined the Center’s agenda moving forward and described projects already underway. Keynote speaker U.S. Ambassador to the OAS Carmen Lomellin emphasized the importance of advancing public understanding of Latin America and Latino Studies, particularly as US Latino populations grow.