#  DRCLAS Graduate Student Associate Program Fosters Research and Collaboration on Latin America 

 





January 29, 2025

 

 

 ![DRCLAS GSA Program ](/sites/g/files/omnuum12451/files/2025-01/9.png)

 

At DRCLAS, we advance research and intellectual exchange through initiatives like the Graduate Student Associate (GSA) Program, an effort supporting Harvard PhD students focused on Latin America. This program provides essential resources and cultivates an interdisciplinary community that drives collaboration and scholarly growth.

Through the GSA Program, participants gain access to shared office space and are encouraged to engage in DRCLAS-hosted conferences, workshops, and seminars. These events foster connections with peers and experts working on critical issues in the region, offering opportunities to share research and forge cross-disciplinary collaborations.

“Being involved with DRCLAS as a GSA has facilitated my interactions with other scholars working on the region, from whom I can learn. These interactions have greatly enriched my experience this academic year,” said Raúl Duarte, a PhD candidate in Political Economy and Government.

The current GSA cohort reflects the diverse scope of research supported by the program, with projects spanning disciplines such as anthropology, literature, education, and political science. Meet the 2024-2025 cohort:

- Alfredo García Garza (Existential Anthropology and History of Religions) investigates the healing practices of migrants in the Texas-México borderlands, focusing on the magico-religious figure el Niño Fidencio and his ritual specialists.
- Andrea Garza (Romance Languages and Literatures) explores representations of quotidian violence, horror, and forced disappearances in contemporary Mexican literature and media.
- Carlos A. González (Romance Languages and Literatures) examines horror and the Weird in Spanish and French literature, focusing on literary monsters and their cultural significance.
- Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez (Government) researches threats to democratic institutions in Central America and Mexico, particularly the role of criminal organizations in elections.
- Raúl Duarte (Political Economy and Government) analyzes state capacity, corruption, and the use of machine learning in public finance.
- Santiago Pulido-Gomez (Graduate School of Education) studies the organizational culture of low-income schools in Latin America and its impact on teacher development.

The program’s structure fosters meaningful interdisciplinary connections. “DRCLAS has provided a community of scholars from whom I can learn and be galvanized to perform my own research,” said Carlos A. González. They highlighted the program’s support in organizing a valuable author event for the graduate student community.

For Pulido-Gomez, the program’s emphasis on cross-disciplinary dialogue has been transformative. “By being in conversation with other doctoral students interested in Latin America, this opportunity has helped ground my ideas in the challenges that are a priority for the region. The enormous value of engaging in interdisciplinary conversations cannot be overstated,” he said.

The GSA Program exemplifies DRCLAS’ commitment to fostering scholarly excellence and collaboration across Harvard. By equipping emerging scholars with resources and a dynamic intellectual network, the program plays a key role in addressing pressing challenges and advancing research on Latin America.

[Click here](https://prod-drclas2.drupalsites.harvard.edu/graduate-student-associates) to learn more about the GSA Program.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Cambridge ](/locations/cambridge-office)
 
 

 Share on:- [     Facebook ](#)
- [     Twitter ](#)
- [     Linkedin ](#)