Robert G Mead, Jr.
1913-1995
Robert G. Mead’s career was marked by his dedication to improved Latin American-U.S. cultural understanding. The first manifestation of this life-long endeavor might have occurred in Mexico, where as a teenager, he wrote a satirical essay on national stereotypes. Thereafter, throughout a long and distinguished career, he strove to educate the public about Latin American, notably through the letters he wrote to the Washington Post and the New York Times between 1944 and 1992, on topics ranging from U.S. diplomacy to Latin American Literature.
Less than twenty years into his professional career, Professor Mead was singled out as one of the twenty most influential Hispanists in the United States in recognition of his service as a consultant to the government, foundations, publishers, universities and national organizations. Convinced of the centrality of foreign language study to international understanding, Dr. Mead worked tirelessly with teachers of Spanish and Social Studies to expand opportunities for learning about Latin America. As a professor of Spanish and the University of Connecticut from 1947 to 1983, he was instrumental in increasing course offerings in Latin American literature and area studies. Author of six books and hundreds of articles and reviews, a visiting professor at six universities and a lecturer at many more, Professor Mead also was the recipient of numerous prestigious honors and awards. His colleagues at the University of Connecticut honor his memory through the annual Robert G. Mead, Jr. Lecture.
2023
Ada Ferrer
"Cuba: An American History"
Ada Ferrer is a Julius Silver Professor of History & Latin American & Caribbean History, NYU.
2019
Graciela Mochkofsky
"News Media Portrayals of Latinx Under Trump: A Call for Greater Visibility"
Graciela Mochkofsky is the Director of the Spanish-language Journalism Program and Tow Professor, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, The City University of New York.
2018
Kevin Johnson
“Immigration in a Time of Trump”
Kevin Johnson is Dean, Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Professor of Chicana/o Studies and UC Davis School of Law.
2017
Mimi Sheller
“New Perspectives on Emancipation and Freedom: Looking for Gender, Sexuality and Marginal Identities in the Archives”
Mimi Sheller is a Professor of Sociology at Drexel University.
2016
Edwin Meléndez
“Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans”
Edwin Meléndez is a Professor of Urban Policy and Planning at Hunter College and the Director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies.