Past Elena Diaz-Verson Amos Eminent Scholar in Latin American Studies

Max Lifchitz, Fall 2006

his year, Columbus State University named Max Lifchitz as the fall 2006 Elena Diaz-Verson Amos Eminent Scholar in Latin American Studies.

In that role, Lifchitz taught two courses, “Selected Topics in Music: Modernism and Nationalist: Latin American Masters” and “Modern Latin America.”

Lifchitz, right, is active as a composer, performer, producer, arts administrator and educator. A graduate of The Julliard School and Harvard University, he was invited to join the faculty of the University at Albany, State University of New York in 1986. Previously, he held teaching appointments at the Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University.

Lifchitz is represented as a composer, pianist, and conductor on a number of CD and LP albums issued by the Classic Master, CRI, Finnadar, New World, North/South, Opus One, Philips, RCA Victor and Vienna Modern Masters labels.

Hildegardo Córdova-Aguilar, fall 2005

Columbus State University named Dr. Hildegardo Córdova-Aguilar as the fall 2005 Elena Diaz-Verson Amos Eminent Scholar in Latin American Studies. Cordova taught two courses, “Andean Biogeography” and “Urban Problems in Latin American Cities.”

At the time, Córdova was a professor of geography and executive director of the Center for Research in Applied Geography at the Pontifica Universidad Católica del Perú. Some of his former positions include a member of the Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences and coordinator of the Master’s Program in Geography, both at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, Peru.

Additionally, Córdova has held three previous visiting scholarships at the University of Bergen in Norway, Syracuse University in New York and University of Akron in Ohio. Córdova received his master’s degree in geography from the University of Texas and his Ph.D. in geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Karen E. Stothert, fall 2004

Columbus State University named Karen E. Stothert as the fall 2004 Elena Diaz-Verson Amos Eminent Scholar in Latin American Studies.

Stothert, right, taught two courses, “Ancient Art and Religion of Latin America” and “Contemporary and Ancient Women of Latin America.”

At the time, Stothert was a research associate for the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio and an Investigator for the Anthropology Museum of the Central Bank of Ecuador, Guayaquil. Her previous positions included founding director and designer of the Amantes de Sumpa Museum in Santa Elena, Guayas, Ecuador; Fellow of Pre-Columbian Studies at Dumbarton Oaks, Wash.; visiting associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at Yale University. Stothert has participated in numerous research positions and projects and has written more than 10 articles and books.

Stothert studied at Yale University, where she received her master’s in philosophy in anthropology and her doctorate in anthropology.

Warren Church, CSU assistant professor of archaeology and anthropology, nominated Stothert and said she is a multi-dimensional woman who is not only a leading scholar, but is also on the cutting edge of cultural research in a number of areas. According to Church, she has been instrumental in helping build community museums in Latin America and has made great contributions to the Latin American culture.

Church described Stothert as an electrifying speaker and a “bundle of energy.”

“She is warm and personable, and students love her class because she engages them," he said. "She makes them think and prods them into discussing issues of first importance.”

Dr. Eduardo Gomes, fall 2003

Political scientist Eduardo Gomes arrived at CSU in August 2003 from Brazil to share his expertise dealing with the politics and economies of Latin America.

Gomes, right, a professor of political science at Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) in Rio de Janiero, served one semester as the Elena Amos Visiting Scholar in Latin American Studies, teaching "The Politics of Latin American Development" and "Introduction to Latin American Politics."

Gomes has a doctorate from the University of Chicago and speaks English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, his native language.

His career started in the early 1970s at UFF, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees and served as a teaching assistant. He subsequently has worked in the roles of teacher, researcher and administrator and as a history researcher for a private foundation in Brazil (1976-82).

Oscar Monteza, fall 2002

Oscar Monteza, right, an educator and global expert on rural society issues for the United Nations and Panamanian government, arrived at CSU in October as the fall 2002 Elena Amos Visiting Scholar in Latin American Studies.

A professor then at Latina University in Panama, Monteza taught "The Panama Canal: A Case Study of Socioeconomic Development and Environmental Policy in an Emerging Nation."

Monteza's expertise lies in third world development. He specializes in rural cooperatives and other types of farmers' organizations, poverty alleviation/eradication, women's issues in development and democratization.

Prior to teaching, Monteza served the Panamanian government from 1963 to 1983 as director of cooperatives. In Panama, 25 percent of the population belongs to rural cooperatives, which play a vital role in the economy and society. From 1983 to 1996, he served the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome. He was a leading figure in global research and debate on rural cooperatives and was editor of the multilingual FAO publication on rural development. He has also served the International Fund for Agriculture Development and the World Bank.

Monteza performed his undergraduate studies in Canada and received a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin. He also has studied in Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, throughout Central America, England, Germany and Italy.

In addition to teaching, Monteza is an active cattle rancher and engages in reforestation and agrotourism projects. He is fluent in English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

Guillermo Martinez, fall 2001

Novelist and mathematician Guillermo Martinez, right, served as CSU's fall 2001 Elena Diaz-Verson Amos Eminent Scholar in Latin American Studies. While serving as a professor of mathematics at the University of Buenos Aires, he authored the novels "Regarding Roderer (1993, 1999 second edition)" and "The Woman Master (1999)."

Martinez, who at age 20 earned Argentina's National Short Story Award for "La jungla sin bestias" in 1982, has performed post-doctoral work in mathematics at Oxford University and has a related novel "The Oxford Series," in the works. At CSU, he taught literature courses and delivered a public lecture.

Dr. Paul E. Little , 2000

Paul E. Little, the Elena Diaz-Verson Amos Eminent Scholar in Latin American Studies for 2000, spoke on "Misunderstandings of the Amazon Rain Forest in the Information Age," dispelling many myths held by people throughout the world. Most notable was his point that, despite the images and stories we receive from the media, only 5 percent of all persons in Amazonia are Amerindians while more than 60 percent are urban dwellers.

Little came to CSU from the Universidade de Brasilia in Brazil, where he was a full professor in the Department of Anthropology. He holds a dual Ph.D. in anthropology and Latin American studies. His principal teaching and research interests are Latin American and Indoamerican studies, political ecology and globalization and development theory. He has published several works on ethnic and environmental conflicts in the Amazon.

Herberto Padilla, 1999

Professor Heberto Padilla, a native of Cuba, received a Ph.D. in philosophy and literature from the University of Havana in 1959. In the United States, he studied at several international institutes and taught at institutions such as Princeton University and New York University before coming to Columbus State University in 1999 as the Elena Diaz-Verson Amos Eminent Scholar in Latin American Studies.

As an author, he has published many works, including novels, collections of poetry, and translations of works by T.S. Eliot and several British romantic poets, among others. Padilla has won the National Prize of the Cuban Union of Authors and Artists for his writing, as well as several other distinctions.

In the 1960s, he wrote a critique of Castro, Fuera del Jeugo (Out of the Game), for which he was jailed. He was eventually released, and in 1980, he was allowed to leave Cuba.

Padilla taught two advanced Spanish courses, Advanced Conversation and The Effects of American Film on Latin American Literature at CSU.

He expressed interest in American and Southern literature, naming authors like William Faulkner, Eudora Welty and Carson McCullers among his favorites.