�Ļ�Ӱ��

Dr. Sergio Díaz-Luna is an assistant professor at �Ļ�Ӱ�� specializing in Latin American neo-avant-garde aesthetics, with a particular focus on literary and visual studies, digital narratives and transmedia. He earned his PhD in Latin American Literatures and Cultures from the University of California, Davis, where he explored how literary criticism can enrich its analytical power and impact by blending critical analysis with creative writing techniques. At the 2025 Peace and War Summit at �Ļ�Ӱ��, Dr. Díaz Luna will present on “Conflict and Restoration in Colombia: Visual Narratives of ‘Las Violencias’,” leveraging the works of renowned Colombian artists such as Doris Salcedo, Oscar Muñoz, Fernando Botero, Beatriz González, and César López. His talk delves into how artists and citizens navigate the aftermath of war to foster reconciliation and healing. Dr. Díaz Luna’s participation underscores his commitment to understanding and addressing the enduring challenges of violence and peace in the 21st century. 

Dr. Evan Ellis is a research professor of Latin American Studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute, with a focus on the region’s relationships with China and other non-Western Hemisphere actors, as well as transnational organized crime and populism in the region. 

Dr. Ellis has published over 500 works, including five books, most recently China Engages Latin America: Distorting Development and Democracy? Dr. Ellis previously served as on the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff with responsibility for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. He has testified about his work to the US Congress on various occasions, and has discussed his work on a broad range of radio and television programs. Dr. Ellis has also been awarded the Order of Military Merit José María Córdova by the Colombian government for his scholarship on security issues in the region.

Dr. Rita Boyajian Groh is a Teaching Professor of Political Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she specializes in the intersection of diaspora communities and international relations. With a deep commitment to understanding the global dynamics of migration, identity, and political engagement, Dr. Groh’s research explores the significant and often underexplored role that diasporas play in shaping both their host and home countries. Dr. Groh's scholarly work focuses on how diaspora groups serve as conduits for a range of transnational activities, from cultural exchange and political advocacy to economic development and humanitarian initiatives. Her research examines the ways in which these communities not only maintain ties to their countries of origin but also act as influential actors in international affairs, contributing to the development of policy decisions, cross-border trade, and the promotion of global human rights and democracy. One of the central themes in Dr. Groh’s work is the idea of "transnational identity." She studies how members of diaspora communities navigate complex identities, balancing the preservation of their heritage with the demands of integration into new societies. Through this lens, Dr. Groh analyzes how diasporas influence both the political landscapes of their host countries and the socio-economic and cultural dynamics of their countries of origin. Her research challenges traditional notions of borders, sovereignty, and statehood, providing a more nuanced understanding of global interdependence.

Dr. Mary Fran T. Malone (Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh) is Professor of Political Science at the University of New Hampshire.  Her research focuses on political attitudes and behaviors in Latin America, particularly citizen support for the rule of law, political institutions, and democratic governance.  Prof. Malone’s recent book, Making Police Reform Matter in Latin America, examines how democracies can build police forces that fight crime while also protecting the civil liberties and rights of the citizens they serve.  Prof. Malone has also written articles for academics, practitioners, and the broader public about crime and migration in Central America.  She has served as an expert witness for immigration hearings for Central Americans seeking asylum in the United States and Canada.

Dr. Michelle D. Paranzino is associate professor in the Strategy & Policy Department and director of the Latin America Studies Group at the US Naval War College. She is the author of The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Cold War: A Short History with Documents (Hackett, 2018) and is currently working on a book about Ronald Reagan and the War on Drugs.

Dr. Joshua Regan is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Western New England University. His research primarily focuses on failed states, terrorism, contemporary maritime piracy, border security, and patterns of criminal behavior in declining urban neighborhoods. His research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals and presented throughout North America and Europe. Dr. Regan completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Connecticut, earning a bachelor’s degree in geography and political science in 2007. Two years later, he earned a master’s degree in geography from UCONN. He then completed a second master’s degree in national security in 2010 from the University of New Haven, prior to his acceptance into their doctoral program. In 2018, Dr. Regan graduated from the University of New Haven with a doctoral degree in criminal justice.

Dr. Kenneth Schweitzer is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Music at Washington College in Chestertown, MD. He holds a Master of Music in Ethnomusicology and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance, and has been engaging with Cuban musical culture for nearly 30 years. Though his early research focused on Afro-Cuban religious ritual, his research and scholarship in the last 10 years has shifted to examining Cuban art and music more holistically within the context of a rapidly changing Cuban society. His published papers, presentations, and guest lectures include topics related to edu-tourism, Cuban responses to the COVID-19 crisis, cultural responses to the near-collapse of the Cuban tourist economy, and art & music as vital expressions of state propaganda, national identity, cultural resistance, and resilience. Dr. Schweitzer travels to Cuba several times per year, conducting research, performing, and engaging the tourism sector as he leads groups of students from various colleges and universities.

Dr. Matthew Singer is the Alan R. Bennett Honors Professor of Political Science at the University of Connecticut. He received his PhD from Duke University. He is the co-editor of the book The Latin American Voter: Pursuing Representation and Accountability in Challenging Contexts (University of Michigan Press, with Elizabeth Zechmeister and Ryan Carlin) and of the book Economics and Politics Revisited: Executive Approval and the New Calculus of Support (Oxford University Press, with Timothy Hellwig) along with numerous articles and book chapters. He has also assisted on reports for the Latin American Public Opinion Project on how the public evaluates democracy and government institutions in the Americas.

Dr. Kaitlin E. Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Spanish and the World Languages Coordinator at �Ļ�Ӱ��. Her research delves into U.S. and Latina/o identities that are resulting from trans-border cultural and national fusion, (un)documented Latina/o immigration, and contemporary border regions. She is interested in intersections between social media and cultural iconography as well as exploring music as a site for resistance. Dr. Thomas holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from the University of Birmingham (U.K.), a M.A. in Latin American and Spanish Literature and Culture from New York University, B.A. degrees in Hispanic Studies and Music from Washington College, and a Graduate Certificate in TESOL from the University of Maryland. She has also completed non-degree studies with the Council of International Education Exchange in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Sevilla, Spain; the Centro Panoamericano de Idiomas in Guanacaste, Costa Rica; the Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid, Spain, and the Universidad Centroamericana “José Simeón Cañas” in La Libertad, El Salvador.