As the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread throughout Latin America and the Caribbean in late spring of 2020, the Center for Latin American Studies at Georgetown University began to follow and evaluate the impact and responses to the pandemic in all countries as well as in six European territories in the region by the public and private sectors, civil society, as well as international and regional organizations. The project came to end in April of 2022.
LACCOM is the result of the work of 32 students (19 undergraduates and 13 graduates) affiliated with the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) who, since the summer of 2020 and until April of 2022, and under the supervision of CLAS’ Director of Academic Affairs, Prof. Angelo Rivero Santos, collected, systematically organized and analyzed data and information under the three rubrics detailed in the map. These rubrics are the core of the Master of Arts and the minor in Latin American Studies in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. We hope that the historical analysis and resources produced and collected serve as an important educational tool for students, researchers, and policy makers around the world interested in the impact and responses to the pandemic in the Latin America and Caribbean region during the period in question.
Both versions of LACCOM, English and Spanish, were updated throughout the duration of the project to reflect the evolution of what was without doubt the most serious public health crisis that has impacted the region in generations.
Meet the Summer 2020 Team:
Brynne Archbold
Contributor
Brynne is a second-year student in the Latin American Studies Master’s program with a concentration in Governance and Leadership. She is from St. Petersburg, Florida and graduated from the University of Tampa in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Government & World Affairs and Spanish with a concentration in Latin American politics. Brynne is currently the Treasurer for the graduate student organization, LatAm Council, at Georgetown. Her academic research interests include studying democracy, rule of law, and human rights in the Central American region.
Alexander Cordovés
Spanish Editor, Contributor, and Web Designer
Alexander is a third-year student in the School of Foreign Service with a concentration in International Politics and pursuing a minor in Latin American Studies. Originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico, Alexander is the founder and Executive Director of ‘Sin Límites,’ a Puerto Rico-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing school materials to low-income students and assisting underprivileged communities in disaster recovery. Find Alexander on LinkedIn.
Áine Crinion
Contributor
Áine is a junior in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown, studying International Politics with a concentration in International Law, Institutions, and Ethics. On campus, Áine serves on the board for an annual women’s empowerment summit, OWN IT, and helps organize Model United Nations conferences in DC, China, India, and Southeast Asia. Previously, she interned with the Inter-American Dialogue’s Education Program, researching educational cooperation between African and Latin American countries, and with Search for Common Ground, developing fundraising strategies for a peacebuilding INGO. Find Áine on LinkedIn.
Alexis Gorfine
Contributor and Article Editor
Alexis is a junior in the Walsh School of Foreign Service majoring in International Politics and minoring in Latin American Studies. Her interests include human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Latin America. Outside of her studies, Alexis is on the leadership team of the Georgetown Independent, Georgetown’s art and culture magazine. Prior to Georgetown, she volunteered with the Guatemalan-Maya Center in her hometown of West Palm Beach, Florida. Find Alexis on LinkedIn.
George Hames
Contributor and Web Designer
George is a second-year student in the Latin American Studies program with a concentration in Governance and Leadership. Originally from London, George graduated from Oxford University with a degree in French and Spanish in 2018, specialising in twentieth-century Spanish American fiction. He also spent a year at Sciences Po Paris studying Political Science and International Relations. Before Georgetown, he worked in Paris as the Debate and Public Speaking Coach at the École de Guerre (French War College), teaching France’s brightest military officers the skills of persuasion and academic writing in preparation for their future careers in strategic command. Find George on LinkedIn.
Keva Luke
Contributor
Keva is a second-year student in the Master of Arts in Latin American Studies program with a concentration in History, Culture, and Society. Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Keva graduated from Siena College in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. She was a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2016 and is a 2017-2019 Colombia Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. As a 2019 Charles B. Rangel International Affair Graduate Fellow, Keva will join the US Department of State as Foreign Service Officer in 2021. Find Keva on LinkedIn.
Aiyanna Maciel
Contributor
Aiyanna is a second-year student in the Latin American Studies Program concentrating in Governance and Leadership. Aiyanna is from Raymond, Maine, but studied at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida for her Bachelor’s. She studied World Languages & Cultures, concentrating in Spanish Translation. She was a member of the Bonner Program, a service-learning program that allowed her to volunteer with a local elementary school ESOL program and teach English to Spanish speakers through La Casita Cultural Latina. She currently works at Georgetown’s Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship, where she supports the Doyle Faculty Fellows Program, Inclusive Pedagogy initiatives, and summer faculty development preparing for Fall 2020 hybrid teaching. Find Aiyanna on LinkedIn.
Carolina Marin
Contributor
Carolina is a second-year graduate student in the Latin American Studies program with a concentration in Governance and Leadership. She has a special interest in corruption, the rule of law and youth movements in Latin America and the Caribbean. Originally from Colombia, Carolina graduated from the Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá with a degree in International Relations, and an emphasis in Society and Latin American politics. Before starting her graduate studies at Georgetown, Carolina worked for the private and diplomatic sector as a Latin American market researcher.
Sonia Paz Canton
Contributor
Sonia is a second year undergraduate student in the Walsh School of Foreign Service. She is presently studying Culture and Politics and hopes to further explore her interest in International Relations. Originally from Guatemala, Sonia currently resides in Southern California, and graduated highschool involved in various leadership positions. She is presently an Advocacy intern with the CSJ at Georgetown and intends on continuing social justice work down the line to support her global community. Find Sonia on LinkedIn.
Ray Rizzo
Contributor
Ray is a second-year student in the Latin American Studies program with a concentration in Political Economy and Development and pursuing a certificate in International Business Diplomacy. Originally from Long Island, Ray graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo with a B.A. in International Relations and Economics. During his studies, he spent a semester at the Universitat de Barcelona and completed an internship working with microenterprises in Jinja, Uganda. Following graduation, Ray worked in international tax compliance at KPMG. Afterwards, he was fortunate to join the Peace Corps where he worked with high school teachers in Jinotega, Nicaragua promoting an entrepreneurship curriculum to boost self-reliant employability after graduation. Find Ray on LinkedIn.
Ava Tavrazich
Contributor
Ava is a second-year student in the Master of Science in Foreign Service program concentrating in Global Politics and Security. She is also pursuing a certificate in Latin American Studies. Ava received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and International Studies, with a minor in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Languages and Literatures, from the University of Michigan in 2017. Prior to Georgetown, she worked as an immigration paralegal and directed educational initiatives in Quito, Ecuador. She also interned at U.S. Embassy Belgrade, Serbia and plans to pursue a career in diplomacy in the future. Find Ava on LinkedIn.
Lesly Tejada
Contributor
Lesly is a second-year master’s student in Latin American Studies and is pursuing a certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies. Lesly graduated with a degree in International Studies and Sociology from the University of California Irvine. Before coming to Georgetown, she worked as a legal assistant at the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles, helping provide legal immigration services to victims of crime. After Georgetown, she aspires to work in the field of human and immigrant rights.
Xueru Zhang
Contributor
Xueru is a second-year student in the Latin American Studies Master’s program with a concentration in Political Economy. Originally from Beijing, China, Xueru graduated with a degree in Spanish from the University of International Business and Economics, with a minor in International Economics and Trade. She also spent a semester at the Universitat de Valencia, school of economics. Before coming to Georgetown, Xueru completed an internship as a translator at the China Import and Export Fair, one of the largest exhibitions in Asia. She also worked as an international volunteer in Sri Lanka helping to improve grassroots education curriculums. After graduation, Xueru plans to continue pursuing improving women’s economic and employment policy issues in an NGO setting.
