Center for Latin American Studies
The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) offers its students multidisciplinary academic training programs of the highest quality that complement a degree in a discipline or profession. Your support will ensure that these traditions grow and engage more students! In addition, the Center sponsors a number of signature programs including:
The Latin American Social and Public Policy Conference
The Center for Latin American Studies has celebrated over 25 years of hosting the Latin American Social and Public Policy Conference (LASPP), a space where researchers from around the world convene to discuss historic and contemporary themes of social and public policy in Latin America, the Caribbean and diasporic communities. LASPP conference participants leverage CLAS' extensive international network and in-house scholars to collect insightful on their work. In order to uphold inclusivity and lower barriers for scientific exchange, LASPP papers may be presented in English, Spanish, and/or Portuguese.
The Latin American and Caribbean Festival
In 1979, Director Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Assistant to the Director June Belkin, and Assistant Director Shirley Kregar created the annual Latin American and Caribbean Festival to showcase regional cultures, resources, and community organizations to students and the general public. The success and subsequent expansion of the festival has coincided with the growth of Pittsburgh's Latinx and Hispanic population, making the event one of the largest gatherings of Latinos in Western Pennsylvania. Please support this great event.