In 2021 we held a two-day event to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the LAIS MA program. Despite the difficulties of the pandemic, more than 20 alumni participated, sharing their reminiscences about their time in LAIS and telling us about the diverse career paths they have pursued since leaving us. You can find more information about all the speakers here, and see the program below.
THURSDAY, APRIL 29
10:00AM – 10:20AM | Welcoming Remarks
- Chancellor Henry T. Yang, UCSB
- Prof. Mary Hancock, Acting Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts, UCSB
- Prof. John Foran, Sociology Department, and former LAIS Program Director, UCSB
- Prof. Cecilia Méndez, History Department, and LAIS Program Director, UCSB
- History of LAIS with Amy Houser, LAIS Major and incoming LAIS Master’s Student, UCSB
10:20AM – 10:30AM | Break
10:30AM – 11:45AM | Panel 1: Career Paths in History
- Larisa Veloz (2007), Assistant Professor, History & Chicano Studies, University of Texas El Paso.
Advisor: Sarah Cline, History Department, UCSB - Nicole Pacino (2007), Associate Professor, History, University of Alabama in Huntsville
Advisor: Gabriela Soto Laveaga, History of Science Department, Harvard University - Cari Maes (2004), Assistant Professor, History Department, Oregon State University
Advisor: Frank Dutra, History Department, UCSB
Moderator: Prof. Gabriela Soto Laveaga, History of Science, Harvard University
11:45AM – 12:45PM | Lunch Break
12:45PM – 1:45PM | Panel 2: Career Paths in Film and Journalism
- Amy Rosner (2008), Documentarian
Advisor: William Robinson, Sociology Department, UCSB - Kirstin Garrison (2016), Journalist
Advisor: Kum-Kum Bhavnani, Sociology Department, UCSB
Moderator: Prof. Cristina Venegas, Film and Media Studies Department, and LAIS, UCSB
1:45M-2:15PM | Break
2:15PM-3:30PM | Panel 3: Career Paths in NGOs, Business, and Administration
- Miguel Becerra (2010), Senior Policy Analyst. Homebase/ The Center for Common Concerns
Advisor: Cecilia Méndez, History Department, UCSB - Paul Bancroft (2008), Executive Director Sierra Community House
Advisor: Dr. Carol Dixon, Lecturer, UCSB - Steve Pent (2007), Director of Adult Formation, St. William Catholic Church
Advisor: Cecilia Méndez, History Department, UCSB
Moderator: Prof. Cecilia Méndez, History Department, and LAIS Director, UCSB
3:30-4:00 | Break
4:00PM-5:30PM | Mixer, Sharing Memories
- 4:00-4:10 Opening Remarks
- 4:10-5:00 Presenters: Miguel Becerra, Jorge Gonzalez Estrella, Kirstin Garrison, Justine Meyr, Amy Rosner, Larisa Veloz, and William Alexander Yankes
- 5:00-5:30 Open Discussion
Moderator: Prof. Juan Cobo, History Department, and LAIS Vice-director, UCSB
FRIDAY, APRIL 30
9:00AM – 10:15AM | Panel 4: Career Paths in Anthropology and History
- Zackary Mckiernan (2008), Associate Professor, World History, Cuesta College
Advisor: Randy Bergstrom, History Department, UC Santa Barbara - Linda Hall (2013), Lecturer & Author, Anthropology Department, UCR
Advisor: Casey Walsh, Anthropology Department, UCSB - Thelma Patnett (2018), Graduate Student, Anthropology, UCR
Advisor: Dr. Emiko Saldivar Tanaka, Anthropology Department, UCSB
Moderator: Prof. Cecilia Méndez, History Department, and LAIS Drector, UCSB
10:15AM – 10:30AM | Break
10:30AM-11:45AM | Panel 5: Career Paths in History & Political Science
- Anil Mukerjee (2002), Assistant Professor, History Department, US Military Academy West Point
Advisor: Frank Dutra, History Department, UCSB - Cheryl Jiménez Frei (2012), Assistant Professor, Public History, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Advisor: Frank Dutra, History Department, UCSB - Mónica Landeros (1999), Adjunct Professor, Latino/a Studies & Political Science, City College San Francisco, Merritt College, Contra Costa College
Advisor: Prof. John Foran, Sociology Department, UCSB
Moderator: Prof. Kate Bruhn, Chair, Political Science Department, and LAIS, UCSB
11:45AM – 12:45PM | Lunch Break
12:45PM-2:00PM | Panel 6: Career Paths in Education
- Jenae Jordan Nott (2011), High School Teacher, North Monterey County Unified School District
Advisor: Cristina Venegas, Film and Media Studies Department, UCSB - Jacqueline Bach-y-Rita (1985), Elementary School Teacher, Alisal Union School District
- Mark Boelter (2011), High School Teacher, Los Angeles Unified School District
Advisor: Fernando Lopez-Alves, Sociology Department, UCSB
Moderator: Prof. Fernando López Alves, Emertus, Sociology Department, UCSB; Director and Distinguished Research Fellow, Global and International Studies Program, School of Law & Institute of Global Governance, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain
2:00PM-2:30PM | Break
2:30PM-3:30PM | Panel 7: Career Paths in NGOs
- Daniel Smith (1986), formerly Program Coordinator for Latin American Medical Relief Projects, Direct Relief
Advisor: Víctor Fuentes, Spanish & Portuguese Department, UC Santa Barbara - Jorge Gonzalez Estrella (2012), Regional Civic Engagement Organizer at the Environmental Health Coalition
Advisor: Casey Walsh, Anthropology Department, UC Santa Barbara
Moderator: Prof. Juan Cobo, History Department, and LAIS Vice-director, UCSB
3:30PM – 3:50PM | Memorial for Professor Frank Dutra
3:50PM – 4:00PM | Closing Remarks