The Center for the Americas is an interdisciplinary center that seeks to promote the study of the Western Hemisphere at the University of Oklahoma. The Center brings together faculty and students interested in Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and US foreign policy within the Western Hemisphere to promote learning, collaboration, and exchange. The Center for the Americas is endowed by ConocoPhillips Fund.
The primary functions of the Center for the Americas are to support student and faculty research and creative work, organize academic and cultural events, and strengthen the understanding of hemispheric affairs within the broader OU community. The Center regularly holds lunctime lectures with visiting speakers and OU faculty; co-sponors activities with other centers on campus; supports cultural events showcasing OU student groups; and oversees a yearly small grants competition to support faculty and graduate student research.
To join the Center for the Americas listserv, please send a message to OULATINAMERICA-L-subscribe-request@lists.ou.edu requesting to be added.
"Karuara, People of the River": Documentary Screening and Virtual Director Q&A
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:00pm
Location: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Kerr Auditorium
Join the Center for the Americas, the Latin America Sustainability Initiative (LASI), and the Sam Noble Museum for a screening of the documentary "Karuara: People of the River," which chronicles the struggle of a Peruvian community to save the northern Amazon River. The screening will be followed by a virtual Q&A with the documentary's director, Stephanie Boyd.
You can learn more about the documentary by visiting this page.
Election Aftermath in Colombia and Peru: What Happened and What Does the Future Hold?
On October 1, the Center for the Americas and the Latin America Sustainability Initiative (LASI) held a conversation on recent elections and new administrations in Colombia and Peru. The event will feature Dr. Sandra Botero (Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá), Dr. Charles Kenney (OU Political Science), and Dr. Victor Maqque (LASI/OU History).
"La invasión mexicana: Immigration, USA '94, and New Perspectives on the 2026 World Cup": A Conversation with Dr. Celso Thomas Castillo
On September 15, 2026, the Center for the Americas welcomed Dr. Celso Thomas Castilho, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies at Vanderbilt University. During a lunchtime presentation, Dr. Castilho discussed his current book project, Fútbol and Politics in the United States: A New History of the 1994 World Cup. In the project, Dr. Castilho reframes the 1994 World Cup in the United States as part of larger struggles over Latino political representation, media portrayls, and immigration.
Director, Center for the Americas
Associate Professor, International & Area Studies
Research Focus: Legacies of armed conflict, corruption and anti-corruption, statebuilding, democratic erosion, and human rights in Latin America.
Office: 317 Farzaneh Hall
Email: rachel.schwartz@ou.edu
On March 24, 2023, the the OU Center for the Americas and the Center for Inter-American Policy and Research (CIPR) at Tulane University hosted this panel discussion with: José Miguel Cruz, Director of Research, Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, Florida International University Michael Paarlberg, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Virginia Commonwealth University Sonja Wolf Researcher, Drug Policy Programme, CIDE
On October 21, 2022, the OU Center for the Americas hosted a Latin American Lunch talk with IAS Professor Rachel Schwartz, "Why Do Corrupt Governments Invite International Anti-Corruption Commissions? Experiences from Central America." The event was held in person and also on Zoom.
On January 28, 2022, the OU Center for the Americas and OU Center for Brazil Studies hosted Ian Carrillo of the OU Department of Sociology for a talk, "Dislodging Authoritarianism: The Brazilian Labor Ministry’s Fight Against Neo-Slavery and Environmental Exploitation."
On October 15, 2021, the OU Center for the Americas welcomed Steven Gullberg, Associate Professor, OU Extended Campus School of Integrative and Cultural Studies, for this Zoom webinar.
A talk presented by the OU Center for the Americas as part of the OU Tulsa Race Massacre centennial commemoration on April 16, 2021, with guest speaker Luis Rodrigo Salvadó, Analyst for the Public Prosecutor for Human Rights of Guatemala and Professor of Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation, Universidad de Occidente de Guatemala.
On February 9, 2023, the OU Center for the Americas hosted a Latin American Lunch panel discussion, "Recent Political Protests in Peru and Brazil." Speakers included Víctor Maqque (LASI and History), Fabio Costa Morais de Sa e Silva (International and Area Studies), Michelle Morais de Sa e Silva (International and Area Studies) and Charlie Kenney (Political Science).
On March 25, 2022, the OU Center for the Americas hosted a talk, "Struggles for Autonomy in Bolivia and Peru at the Time of Independence from Spain," with Victor Maqque, Managing Director for the Latin American Sustainability Initiative (LASI) and Affiliate Faculty, OU Department of History.
On November 12, 2021, the OU Center for the Americas hosted this panel discussion on Caribbean Studies at the University of Oklahoma, with panelists Jennifer Davis Cline (history), Greg Graham (AFAM), Rita Keresztesi (English), and Lewis Eliot (history).
A conversation with Krista Brune, Assistant Professor of Portuguese and Spanish, Penn State University. Presented by the OU Center for the Americas, Center for Brazil Studies and Department of Modern Languages, Literature and Linguistics on April 30, 2021. Respondent is Paulo Moreira, MLLL.
On February 5, 2021, The OU Center for the Americas welcomed Sarah Hines from the OU Dept. of History, Diego Escobari from the Dept. of Economics and Finance at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and Ainara Moreno Mejía from the OU Dept. of Economics for this Zoom webinar.
