Seven Students Receive 2025 Mellon Undergraduate Awards for Summer Research on Latin America and the Caribbean

Seven Students Receive 2025 Mellon Undergraduate Awards for Summer Research on Latin America and the Caribbean

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) is happy to announce and celebrate the work of the 2025 Mellon Undergraduate Awards for Summer Research on Latin America and the Caribbean recipients! Congratulations to all for your fantastic projects! There were 7 awardees from across campus and disciplines. Their travels and research demonstrate the advanced academic rigor of undergraduate students that both study Latin America and the Caribbean as well as carry out research in the region. Congratulations!

Image

Ellie Armstrong: Early Childcare Centers Promotion of Belonging with Bolivian and Paraguayan Families in Buenos Aires

International Comparative Studies and Psychology majors, Child Policy Research certificate.

Faculty sponsor: Liliana Paredes.

Ellie wrote: “This summer, I was grateful to return to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for two weeks to begin my honors thesis research in International Comparative Studies and Child Policy Research. I engaged in ethnographic observations and interviewed eight educators and directors of early childcare centers that serve low-income neighborhoods. I gained invaluable insight into how these center staff structure the learning environment to shape experiences of belonging for Bolivian and Paraguayan families. I look forward to continuing to analyze my qualitative data as I begin writing my thesis!”

Image

Victoria I. Justiniano: Leatherback and Hawksbill Conservation in the West Coast of Puerto Rico.

Undeclared (Freshman), but certainly Marine Science and Conservation.

Faculty sponsor: Brian Silliman.

Victoria wrote: “Researching the historical presence of Leatherback and Hawksbill sea turtles on the west coast of Puerto Rico was an incredibly rewarding experience that allowed me to witness both nesting and hatching behaviors of these remarkable animals. The data I accessed revealed species-specific nesting preferences likely influenced by morphological and geological characteristics. It also provided insights into hatchling success, highlighting how many emerged from the egg chamber versus those that became trapped. Overall, this experience demonstrated the true value of citizen science in deepening our understanding of species and generating data to guide future conservation strategies.”

Image

Ally Carey: Investigating Social Determinants of Adolescent Pregnancy in Cusco, Perú (InDeSEA).

Psychology BS, Global Health minor.

Faculty sponsor: Ernesto Ortiz.

Aly wrote: “In June and July of 2025, I returned to Urubamba, Perú to finish data collection for our ongoing independent research project on the social determinants of adolescent pregnancy in the Cusco region. Although it was my second summer there, it felt like markedly different experience: we were able to integrate into the community on a much deeper level, as we had already formed relationships with those at our partner organization- VIDAWASI- and many of the community members from the previous year. We even spoke on the radio and danced in the local parade during their celebration of Señor de Torrechayoc! Through these already established connections, we were also able to complete our surveys and interviews with young mothers in the area, and we're excited to be moving into data analysis.” 

Image

Kate Seneshen: Investigating Social Determinants of Adolescent Pregnancy in Cusco, Perú (InDeSEA).

Global Health Major, Public Policy Major, Biology Minor.

Faculty sponsor: Ernesto Ortiz.

Kate wrote: “My fieldwork in Peru over the past two summers was the highlight of my college experience, as I got to explore beautiful Andean and Amazonian communities while improving my Spanish, learning how to collaborate effectively with community partners, and design and conduct public health research in a cross-cultural setting. on the social determinants of adolescent pregnancy and HPV prevention in Cusco, Peru. This experience would not have been possible without the support of CLACS, which funded our research on the social determinants of adolescent pregnancy over the past two years. Thank you, CLACS! For winter 2025, another project will take place and CLACS is wishing Irma the best with her work!”

Mariana Meza: Internalized Borders to Community-Rooted Research and Work Towards Immigration Justice.

Program II: Theorizing and Practicing Social Change: Systems Analysis, Resistance, and Reimagination Towards Justice in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands.

Faculty sponsor: Liliana Paredes.

Image

Zachary Patterson: The Impact of President Javier Milei’s Fiscal and Monetary Policy Tightening on Regional

 Government Budgets.

Public Policy (BS), Economics (BA).

Faculty sponsor: John Hillen.

Zachary wrote: “Zachary Patterson lived in Argentina for 10 weeks working at a research firm focused on economic development. In his work he researched recent economic reforms helping identify the impact of President Javier Milei's fiscal and monetary policy on provincial governments and their debt obligations.”

Winter 2025 Project

Irma Lopez-Calderon: Farm 2 Table: From Coffee Grounds to La Mesa.

Psychology/ Visual Media Studies.

Faculty sponsor: Sandra Sotelo-Miller.

Best of luck, Irma!

Summer 2026 Mellon Undergraduate Awards for Summer Research on Latin America and the Caribbean Applications, Due February 2026

Are you an undergraduate student interested in research in Latin America or the Caribbean? We recommend starting your application preparations well in advance, and specifically, coordinating with your faculty sponsor and communicating with the Duke Institutional Review Board Office. Please email Patrick Semmler with any questions as well, and he is also happy to schedule an appointment to provide more information and guidance regarding the application.