ABOUT LACS

 

Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) was founded in 1995 and brings together over forty Stony Brook faculty from a wide range of disciplines, including Africana Studies, Art, History, Ecology & Evolution, Hispanic Languages & Literature, Political Science, Journalism, Sociology, Theatre Arts, and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies. From its early years, LACS has contributed new interdisciplinary perspectives to research, teaching, and community engagement at the university.

One of its most notable initiatives was the Rockefeller Foundation–funded project Durable Inequality in Latin America, which brought leading scholars from across the Americas into dialogue and resulted in a landmark publication on inequality studies.

Over time, LACS has also expanded its commitment to cultural and artistic engagement. Through initiatives such as the LACS Gallery, it has created an important space on Long Island for Latin American and Latinx arts. Exhibitions like the award-winning Unseen America, a documentary photography project developed by Latinx day workers, reflect its ongoing support for underrepresented voices and community-based forms of knowledge production.

The center also plays a central role in supporting students. It offers Summer Research Grants for graduate students and the Mariposa Award for both graduate and undergraduate students working on Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to its cultural programming, LACS organizes an active speaker series and an annual graduate student–run conference that brings emerging scholars from across the hemisphere. These events often involve collaborations with institutions such as NYU, Columbia, The New School, and the CUNY Graduate Center, while also creating space for dialogue with community leaders on issues affecting Latinx communities today.