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Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC)
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Community

La Savane des Esclaves, Martinique | Photo courtesy of Alyssa James

About CERLAC Community

CERLAC community has set themselves two major goals. One has been to create proper conditions for the pursuit of high quality and disinterested research. The other has been to provide advanced interdisciplinary education for University students, and for the Canadian academic, governmental and non-governmental organizations at large. The programs and activities organized by CERLAC to achieve these goals have been mutually reinforcing.

CERLAC fellows comprise the largest and most distinguished group of LAC scholars in Canada, including many pioneers in the field of Canadian LAC studies. Their collective expertise on most Latin American countries and many Caribbean ones and tradition in excellence in rural sociology, critical development studies, migration studies, human rights, performance studies, and extractive industry are recognized throughout the Americas.

The list of researchers includes contact information and a brief profile of CERLAC Fellows and Associates. Fellows and Associates are responsible for working with us to make sure that their information is up to date. If you are a fellow and your profile needs to be updated, please email your updated information to CERLAC’s Coordinator at cbonifaz@yorku.ca. We look forward to hearing from you!

Becoming a Member

If you would like to become a Fellow, an Associate Fellow, a Research Associate, or an Emeritus Fellow of CERLAC, please fill in the membership application form provided below.

CERLAC Membership Application Form

Cuba | Photo courtesy of Alicia Filipowich

CERLAC Membership Categories:

Fellow Terms: 5 years (renewable)

Description: Individuals who are York University faculty

  1. who show evidence of significant achievement within the past five years in research and publications focused on Latin American and Caribbean regions and/or on the Latin American and Caribbean diasporas and/or CERLAC’s mandate.
  2. who are committed to actively furthering CERLAC’s mandate and life as a Centre.

Fill in application and attach to it a letter addressed to the membership committee that describes how you as an applicant meet CERLAC’s criteria and outline your plans for engagement with CERLAC, plus short form CV.

  • Fellows participate in the supervision of graduate students working on issues relevant to CERLAC’s mandate and participate as supervisors in CERLAC’s graduate diploma program.
  • Fellows take responsibility for organizing, developing, and/or directing CERLAC-sponsored projects, activities, and events.
  • Fellows run their projects, activities, and events through CERLAC when these relate to CERLAC’s mandate.
  • Fellows play a significant role in assisting CERLAC to develop its program and serve its mandate.
  • Assistance in putting together research applications through CERLAC
  • Administrative support for projects and events run through CERLAC
  • Opportunities for participation in CERLAC-sponsored projects, events, and activities
  • Opportunities for dissemination of research through CERLAC-sponsored events, publications, and conferences and on CERLAC’s website
  • Access to a network of academics and community-based researchers across the Americas.
  • Title of Fellow
  • Opportunity to apply for office space at CERLAC
  • Opportunity for students to apply for work space at CERLAC

Associate Fellow Terms: 3 years (renewable)

Description: Individuals other than York full-time faculty, who are associated with universities, other educational institutions, government, industry, and/or community or non-governmental organizations whose work is consistent with CERLAC’s mandate AND

  1. who show evidence of significant achievement within the past five years in research, community, or policy work that focuses on the Latin American and Caribbean regions and/or on the Latin American and Caribbean diasporas.
  2. who are committed to actively furthering CERLAC’s mandate and life as a Centre.

Fill in application and attach to it a letter addressed to the membership committee that describes how you as an applicant meet CERLAC’s criteria and outline your plans for engagement with CERLAC, plus short form CV.

  • Associate fellows must show evidence of recent links with CERLAC.
  • Associate fellows must demonstrate interest in continued involvement in CERLAC projects.
  • Opportunities for participation in CERLAC-sponsored projects, grants, events, and other activities
  • Opportunities for dissemination of research through CERLAC-sponsored events, publications, and conferences and on CERLAC’s website
  • Access to CERLAC’s network of academics and community-based researchers across the Americas
  • Title of Associate Fellow

Research Associate (Term: Retains status so long as criteria are met)

Description: Graduate students at York University

  1. whose research focuses on the Latin American and Caribbean regions and/or on the Latin American and Caribbean diasporas.
  2. who are graduates of or registered in CERLAC’s Graduate Diploma Program.
  3. who are committed to actively furthering CERLAC’s mandate and life as a Centre.

Fill in application and attach to it a letter addressed to the membership committee that describes how you as an applicant meet CERLAC’s criteria and outline your plans for engagement with CERLAC, plus short form CV.

Eligibility will be reassessed annually, based on the student’s response to a request for an update on activities which will also be used to update the individual’s on-line profile.

Research associates must demonstrate a continued interest in CERLAC activities (e.g., by attending events, participating in consultations, responding to evaluation requests, etc.)

Research associates must have engaged in one or more of the following activities to indicate an in-depth involvement with the Centre:

  1. Work/have worked as a GA for CERLAC.
  2. Serve/have served on a CERLAC committee.
  3. Present/have presented on his/her research in a CERLAC forum.
  4. Volunteer/have volunteered with CERLAC (e.g., in the organization of an event or activity).
  5. Be/have been involved in a project or a research/study group of CERLAC or of one of its Fellows.
  6. Author/have authored a Bulletin, Report, Colloquia, or Working Paper in the CERLAC publications series.
  • Opportunities for participation in CERLAC-sponsored projects, grants, events, and other activities
  • Opportunities for dissemination of research through CERLAC-sponsored events, publications, and conferences and on CERLAC’s website
  • Access to CERLAC’s network of academics and community-based researchers across the Americas.
  • Opportunity to apply for workspace at CERLAC.
  • A 30% discount on registration fees associated with any CERLAC event.

Emeritus Fellow (Term: life)

Description: Individuals who are emeritus faculty members at York University or other academic institutions, or who are respected longstanding members of organizations conducting activities consistent with CERLAC’s mandate in the Latin American and Caribbean regions and/or with Latin American and Caribbean diasporas, AND

  1. whose research has focused on the Latin American and Caribbean regions and/or on the Latin American and Caribbean diasporas.
  2. who have a longstanding association with CERLAC.
  3. who have actively furthered CERLAC’s mandate and its life as a Centre throughout their association with the Centre.

Longstanding CERLAC Fellows and Associate Fellows will automatically become Emeritus Fellows upon retirement unless they request otherwise.

  • Assistance in putting together research applications
  • Administrative support for projects and events run through CERLAC
  • Material resources (opportunity to apply for office space, access to Resource Centre).
  • Opportunities for publication, conferences and dissemination for CERLAC related activities
  • Access to a network of academics and community-based researchers across the Americas
  • Title of Emeritus Fellow