Smithsonian Latino Center Announces 2019 Latino Museum Studies Program Fellows

The Smithsonian Latino Center welcomes a new class of graduate students to participate in the annual Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP) July 15. This year, 12 students will convene in Washington, D.C., for a week of professional development experiences followed by a four-week internship at a Smithsonian museum or research center to share, explore and discuss the representation and interpretation of Latino cultures in the context of the American experience.

“LMSP fellows have demonstrated interest and leadership in the areas of Latino history, museum studies, historic preservation and arts management,” said Diana C. Bossa Bastidas, program manager at the Latino Center. “During their time here, they’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at collections and exhibitions and learn best practices.”

These are the 2019 LMSP fellows, the schools they attend and the names of the curators, museums and projects they will support:

• Marina Marisela Álvarez, University of Illinois at Chicago, Kathleen Franz, National Museum of American History, the upcoming exhibition “Girlhood (It’s Complicated)”
• Sarah Corona, University of California, Los Angeles, Alison Oswald, Archives Center of the National Museum of American History, the papers of Clotilde Arias
• Nancy Escalante, California State University, Los Angeles, Kathleen Franz, National Museum of American History, the upcoming exhibition “Girlhood (It’s Complicated)”
• Sonja Elena Gandert, The Graduate Center – City University of New York, Melissa Carrillo, Smithsonian Latino Center, the upcoming Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History
• Cynthia García, Stanford University, Ranald Woodaman, Smithsonian Latino Center, Latino DC History Project focusing on the legacies of Corina Smith and Casilda Luna
• Víctor Hernández-Sang, University of Maryland, Dwandalyn Reece, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Afro-Latino Music collection
• Cintia Huitzil, University of Michigan, John Troutman, National Museum of American History, Latinx Music component of the upcoming “Entertaining America” exhibition
• Kristy Li Puma, University of Maryland, Melissa Carrillo, Smithsonian Latino Center, the upcoming Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History
• Allison Sáenz, University of Houston, Nancy Bercaw, National Museum of American History, research related to Latino Political History
• Carmella Scorcia Pacheco, The University of Arizona, Erin Dowdy, Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage, Smithsonian Year of Music
• Natalie Solis, Harvard Divinity School, E. Carmen Ramos, Smithsonian American Art Museum, the upcoming exhibition “¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965–Now”
• Andrew Viñales, The Graduate Center – City University of New York, Cecilia Peterson, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives & Collections at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, archival access to Latino-related collections

About the Smithsonian Latino Center

Smithsonian Latino Center is the corazón of Latinidad at the Smithsonian. It works toward preserving Latino history and culture, engaging Latino communities and advancing Latino representation in the United States. Since 1997, the center has successfully ensured that the contributions of the Latino community are celebrated and represented throughout the Smithsonian Institution. For more information, visit www.latino.si.edu.

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