#  Building Bridges Across Borders: DRCLAS and UC San Diego Connect Fellows in First Joint Virtual Gathering 

 





October 10, 2025

 

 

- [ DRCLAS Visiting Scholars & Fellows ](/news-categories/drclas-visiting-scholars-fellows)
 
 

 

   ![virtual event](/sites/g/files/omnuum12451/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-10/Screenshot%202025-10-08%20123144.jpg?itok=uLyrdijD) 

 

Earlier this month, the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) at Harvard University and the Center for Mexican Studies at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) held their first joint virtual event, bringing together fellows from both institutions for an afternoon of introductions, networking, and collaboration.

The session was co-hosted by **María López Portillo**, Program Director for Academic Appointments, Fellowships, and Grants at DRCLAS, and **Karla Tirado**, Program Coordinator at UCSD’s Center for Mexican Studies. Both underscored the importance of creating sustained spaces for exchange among scholars dedicated to studying Latin America and the U.S.–Mexico relationship.

> *“This is an exploratory and collaborative space,” said **López Portillo,** “a way to think together about how we can build a community of people who research the same region, share similar questions, and want to connect.”*

**Tirado** highlighted the shared mission of both institutions:

> *“We strive to be a bridge between leaders, researchers, and institutions, creating opportunities for dialogue and joint projects on key issues like migration, security, democracy, and governance.”*

Following brief introductions, fellows presented their work, revealing the depth and diversity of research being conducted across the Americas. Their projects addressed topics such as migration, democracy, inequality, border governance, and gender-based violence. From ethnographic studies of asylum seekers in Tijuana to analyses of electoral systems, financial inclusion, and feminist activism, the presentations demonstrated the fellows’ interdisciplinary expertise and commitment to the region.

> *As participants introduced their work, connections quickly emerged across fields and institutions. “It’s fascinating to see how many of us are working on similar themes but from different perspectives,” one fellow remarked. Another added, “These exchanges help break disciplinary silos and create connections that wouldn’t happen otherwise.”*

As participants introduced their work, connections quickly emerged across fields and institutions. “It’s fascinating to see how many of us are working on similar themes but from different perspectives,” one fellow remarked. Another added, “These exchanges help break disciplinary silos and create connections that wouldn’t happen otherwise.”

The discussion underscored the fellows’ shared engagement with urgent regional challenges. For both centers, the gathering marked an important step toward fostering long-term academic collaboration and strengthening scholarly networks that cross borders and disciplines.

In closing, López Portillo emphasized the value of building a lasting academic community:

> *“We all care about the same region and the same people. The goal is to keep this community alive, whether we’re in the U.S., Latin America, or beyond. Let’s keep exchanging ideas, experiences, and collaborations that connect our institutions and our work.”*

As a next step in this growing partnership, DRCLAS and UC San Diego invited participants and the public to join the upcoming October 17 virtual webinar, **“Mexico’s Security Strategy and Its Implications for U.S.–Mexico Relations,”**moderated by **Diane E. Davis** (Harvard) and **Rafael Fernández de Castro** (UCSD). This program will be the first public, jointly organized event between the two centers, reflecting their shared commitment to building bridges across borders and fostering meaningful academic collaboration between Mexico and the United States.

To learn more about the fellowship programs at both institutions and view the current fellows’ profiles, visit the [DRCLAS’ website](https://www.drclas.harvard.edu/visiting-scholars) and the [UC-San Diego Center for US-Mexican Studies](https://usmex.ucsd.edu/fellows/index.html).

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**DRCLAS Visiting and Associate Scholars 2025–2026:**  
Andrés Barrios Fernández, Christopher Carter, Susan Eckstein, Susan Ellison, Ana Grondona, Nicole Jenne, Alejandra Laera, Bitia Salas García, Vanessa Sander, and Ana Villarreal.

**UC San Diego Fellows 2025–2026:**

**Visiting Fellows**  
Martha Guerrero, Adriana López Acle Delgado, Jordán Mosqueda Juárez, José E. Múzquiz, Martha Balaguera, Deborah Boehm, Katrina Burgess, Guadalupe Chávez, Francisco Javier Guerrero Aguirre, Fernando Jiménez, Pedro Paulo Orraca Romano, Roberto Arechederra, María de Guadalupe Salmorán Villar, Paul Alejandro Sánchez, María Cervantes-Macías, Zaith López, Iván Sanchís, and Jesús Villa.

**Senior Fellows**

Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, Antonella Bandiera, Rebecca Bell-Martin, James Gerber, Michael Lettieri, John McNeece, Sandra Rebok, and Alan Sweedler.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Virtual ](/location/virtual)
- [ Mexico ](/programs-initiatives/mexico)
 
 

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