History | Faculty Comittee | Program Staff

 The Cuban Studies Program at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) stands as the largest, most diverse and most solidly connected to academic and scientific institutions in Cuba among U.S. university programs that foster academic collaboration with the island.

The program is guided by the research undertaken by Harvard faculty working in a wide spectrum of academic fields, namely the social sciences, environment, education, public health/medical sciences, humanities, library exchange and urban planning.

During the 2010–2011 academic year, the Cuban Studies Program deepened and expanded its work through many activities, including:

•    Continued advancement of initiatives to analyze the economic development challenges facing Cuba, the role of social policy in mitigating inequality and addressing social mobility and equity trends, the potential for improvement in U.S.-Cuba relations, and the quality of life of Cubans with HIV/AIDS receiving antiretroviral therapy. More information on these and other projects can be found in the Faculty Initiatives section.

•    Sponsorship of 12 short-term research visits by Cuban scholars and scientists. Their projects and biographies can be found in the Cuban Visiting Scholars and Short-Term Visitors section.

•    Support for graduate students, who are currently conducting research on a wide variety of topics ranging from art history to education policy to the prevention of congenital syphilis in Cuba.

•    Coordination of special events and a yearly seminar series that featured research by Cuban Visiting Scholars on themes including historic preservation and the urban development challenges of Havana, Cuban-U.S. relations, and Cuban culture. 

•    Continued development of the Harvard College Program in Cuba, a semester-long academic program for Harvard College undergraduates at the University of Havana. Details on the program can be found in the Harvard College Program in Cuba section.

In pursuing its activities, the Cuban Studies Program adheres in every respect to U.S. laws and regulations that govern transactions with Cuba. The activities of the Cuban Studies Program have been underwritten by the generous support of the Atlantic Philanthropies, the Ford Foundation, the Christopher Reynolds Foundation and the members of the Cuban Studies Fund.