Fernando Valcheff-García

Déclaration

I am excited to submit my candidacy for the position of Student Representative on the LASA Executive Council. As an active member of the association since 2021, I am committed to advancing LASA’s mission of fostering intellectual exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global dialogue on Latin America. I envision LASA as a dynamic forum where early-career scholars engage with experienced colleagues to broaden the Association’s intellectual and organizational impact. As Student Representative, I will advocate for student voices and needs and develop networking opportunities that ensure LASA remains academically inclusive, socially welcoming, and appropriately responsive to the evolving challenges in our field(s).

My academic trajectory reflects the intercultural perspective I aim to bring to this role. My journey began in Latin America as an Argentine educator and literary scholar, continued in Europe through a multinational Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree, and brought me to the United States to complete a PhD in Spanish at the University of Michigan. These experiences have allowed me to build networks across different countries, languages, and traditions, uniquely positioning me to represent the diverse viewpoints of LASA student members.

As an international scholar, I have consistently sought to create spaces of open dialogue and transdisciplinary exchange. My leadership roles in Michigan’s Romance Languages and Literatures department –co-organizing the Fraker Graduate Conference (2023), coordinating a Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshop (2023), and serving on the Graduate Committee (2024-2025), to name a few examples– have prepared me to balance scholarly, organizational, and administrative responsibilities. Similarly, my active participation in LASA, from organizing and presenting at panels to contributing to the Southern Cone Studies Section, including an interview for the Maestrxs del Cono Sur cycle, has deepened my understanding of LASA as a valuable platform for scholarly engagement.

If elected for this role, I will focus on three priorities: bridging international perspectives by amplifying the voices of students from underrepresented populations; increasing engagement by more closely connecting student members with LASA’s thematic sections, networks, and leadership; and advocating for professional development by expanding mentorship opportunities, workshops, and resources to prepare students for diverse career paths.

I see this role as part of a long-term commitment to LASA’s institutional growth. I am prepared to dedicate a consistent, year-round effort to the work and responsibilities of the Executive Council, while I work towards developing into future leadership within the Association.

Fernando Valcheff-Garcia, PhD Candidate in Spanish, University of Michigan