Israel Alonso-Chavez

Israel Alonso-Chavez has been named associate director of the University of Miami’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS). Alonso-Chavez has worked in the areas of journalism, literature, social science research, and the implementation of grants and international cooperative agreements. Born in Mexico City, he interned at a United Nations information center in Mexico’s capital and coordinated the bureau of information of a Mexican national radio newscast.

“I am delighted to welcome Israel to our team,” said CLAS Director Ariel C. Armony. “His expertise and knowledge of Latin America will be invaluable to us.”

Alonso-Chavez received his Bachelor of Arts in Literature from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and was the recipient of an undergraduate grant from New York University. Later he received a graduate fellowship to complete his Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Florida International University.

While in Miami, Alonso-Chavez completed his graduate education and joined a consulting company to work on development projects sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of State in the areas of democracy promotion and freedom of information.

His academic research has focused on the Frankfurt School and its postulates about the culture industries as they pertain to the issue of musical production. More generally, his interests include Central American security and economic integration, the role of new technologies in Cuba, and the links between digital tools and social movements.

Alonso-Chavez’s duties will include the day-to-day management of CLAS as well as programmatic and outreach efforts associated with the implementation of the center’s Department of Education Title VI grant.