The University of Wisconsin–Madison community and the Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies (LACIS) Program are preparing to bid farewell to Alberto Vargas, a cornerstone figure on campus.
As LACIS’s long-serving associate director, Vargas’s impact has been immeasurable, shaping the program and inspiring countless students and staff. This was vividly evident at his retirement party in March, where many individuals eagerly awaited their turn at the microphone, each one sharing reflections on his legacy and the positive influence he’s had on their lives.
Vargas’s journey, rooted in a deep understanding of natural resource management and international collaboration, has taken him from his home country of Mexico to Washington D.C. and UW–Madison.
Join us as we explore Vargas’s remarkable career, from his early experiences and the evolution of LACIS to his proudest accomplishments and future plans:
Before joining LACIS, what were you doing professionally? What were some of the key experiences that shaped your career path?
Alberto Vargas: Before joining LACIS, I worked for the Wisconsin Department of Administration for nine years as a planning analyst for the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP). The WCMP was a federal-state-local program protecting and enhancing coastal (Great Lakes) resources of the state. This experience was very useful as it gave me deep knowledge of obtaining and managing federal grants. I was also the liaison with researchers at UW working on coastal issues, and we were able to support many graduate students.
I was quite familiar with UW and LACIS, as I got my PhD in 1998 at the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Forest and Wildlife Department. I focused my dissertation on Mexico, studying the institutional evolution of community forest management in the tropical state of Quintana Roo. Also influential were the four years I spent in Washington, D.C. working for a variety of international environmental organizations on issues relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean.
What were your initial impressions of LACIS (or UW–Madison as a whole) when you started?
AV: One of the reasons I selected UW for my graduate PhD program was the fact that UW had a strong Latin American and Iberian Studies Program. I came to Madison in 1989 with my wife, Laurie Greenberg, and we both enrolled in interdisciplinary doctoral programs. I was attracted to the vast cadre of top-level Latin Americanists teaching and conducting research on campus. I took courses about Latin America from esteemed professors who later became friends and colleagues. Thus, when I took the position of associate director, I was closing a big circle. I considered it a great honor to lead the program and contribute to maintaining its excellence. I learned that LACIS and its counterpart at UW–Milwaukee, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS), formed a consortium to apply for federal grants, and I worked hard to maintain and enhance that partnership.
How has LACIS changed or evolved during your time here?
AV: If I use a few words to describe my tenure at LACIS and also the region in general: it is constant change. This has made my work exciting, but also required adjusting and adapting to such changes. Several countries switched politically from stability to crisis, and back to relative stability. At different times, some events or regions became more prominent, from Brazil as an emergent power in the 1990’s to a possible opening of Cuba in the 2000’s, and the ebb and flow of social movements in several countries.
What are some of your proudest accomplishments during your tenure at LACIS?
AV: What makes me the most proud is seeing the hundreds of students (both undergraduate and graduate) who were influenced or impacted by our program and became leaders and innovators in their fields. There is no better accomplishment than seeing generations succeed and fulfilling their goals. I was also a founding member of the Transdisciplinary Center for Research on Psychoactive Substances (TCRPS) in 2019, as several of the so-called “sacred plants” or “entheogens” trace their origins to indigenous knowledge and rituals. Another honor and privilege was receiving the 2021 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Service to the University. This award was very meaningful for me.
How has your work at LACIS impacted your own perspectives or understanding of the world?
Something I value and admire about the region is the resilience and motivation of its peoples to always look for ways to search for justice and peace in the midst of violence and repression.
AV: One of the most rewarding aspects of my work was to keep on learning and re-learning about countries, regions, and issues I was not very familiar with. I had to learn about disciplinary approaches to interpret the region and how to bring that together in an interdisciplinary manner. I found it fascinating to learn about law, history, political science, health sciences, agriculture and natural resources, engineering, and art and humanities. Something I value and admire about the region is the resilience and motivation of its peoples to always look for ways to search for justice and peace in the midst of violence and repression. I found that in every single trip I took to the region and the colleagues I met there.
What is your favorite time of year at UW–Madison?
AV: To be honest, I love all seasons in Madison. I find the winter, the freezing of the lakes and the snow as magical, the colorful spring at the Arboretum, the pleasant summer evenings at Memorial Union Terrace, and the spectacular change of colors in the fall. UW–Madison has one of the most beautiful and inviting campuses in the nation.
Can you describe some of the key projects or initiatives you’ve been involved with during your time here?
AV: I aimed to keep a balanced approach to my responsibilities in administration and grant writing; teaching and advising; and outreach and service. I tried to be innovative while maintaining excellence. For example, I initiated and fostered collaboration with other universities to share our teaching of Quichua and Yucatec Maya, substantially increasing the number of students that take our courses. I also initiated a collaboration with the College of Menominee Nation (CMN), a Tribal College and Minority Serving Institution, to work with them to internationalize their curriculum. This innovation has continued for over a decade and gained us national recognition for best practices.
On campus, I was invited to be on the advisory board of the Global Health Institute, and we hosted several postdocs from the region on health-related matters. I also was part of the transformation of the master’s in conservation biology and sustainable development at the GNIES to the professional master’s in environmental conservation. I remained in the executive committee of this new program and taught a graduate seminar on sustainable development, advising dozens of students in their final projects. I also spearheaded strong collaborations beyond campus, such as the one with Universidad de Guadalajara, and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Leticia, and creating new programs for study abroad in Costa Rica and El Salvador.
Nationally, I was also involved in collaborative efforts such as the one with the Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP), serving as its president in 2017-2018. CLASP brings together leaders of 40 Latin American Studies programs in the U.S. to foster excellence in teaching and outreach, and to promote innovative approaches to teaching area studies and foreign languages.
Were there any mentors or colleagues who were especially influential in your career?
AV: Some professors who were very influential include Daniel Bromley, David Stanfield, Brad Barham, and the late William Thiesenhusen. I also found support from all the LACIS faculty directors I had the honor to work with, including Guido Podestá, Ksenija Bilbija, Francisco Scarano, Hernando Rojas, Kata Beilin, Gay Seidman, and Sara McKinnon, our current faculty director. I am particularly indebted to Dean Guido Podesta, who brought me to LACIS, trusted me with the responsibility to lead LACIS, and was always present and interested in projects of common interest. I am also thankful to LACIS staff across the years, particularly Sarah Ripp, who has consistently been a great colleague to work with to make LACIS what it is. Angela Buongiorno and later, Mary Jo Wilson, have been invaluable in handling the complex financial aspects of LACIS. Our colleagues at UW–Milwaukee, Kris Ruggiero, Julie Kline, Natasha Borges-Sugiyama, Aimee Orndorf, and Monica VanBladel, have been wonderful partners.
What do you see as the future of LACIS?
AV: I am thrilled to see that LACIS will continue as a program of excellence in the U.S. and beyond. The leadership of the program is strong, the affiliated faculty are motivated and engaged, and the students are committed and enthusiastic about what they are learning and becoming proud Badgers for life.
What are your plans for retirement? What are you most looking forward to?
AV: I look forward to having more time to travel with my wife, Laurie, visit my family in Mexico, visit my friends everywhere, and spend time with our children, Zach and Ilana, and their families. I’m looking forward to walks and bike rides, perhaps joining Hoofers, dancing Rueda cubana, and visiting national parks here and in other countries. I look forward to having time to read for pleasure and keep on learning.
Links:
Alberto Vargas’ December 10, 2024 lecture on Wisconsin in Latin America: A Regional and Personal Account
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnk9PiDb8cQ