Student Profiles | CLAS | The University of Chicago

CLAS BA, MA, and doctoral students pursue training across a variety of disciplines and divisions/schools. Here we share profiles of current students, including BA major profiles and CLAS Chats, brief video interviews featuring 10 questions that focus on the experience and work of doctoral students affiliated with CLAS.

LACS BA Students

Brenda Castañeda, 4th year LACS/Public Policy Major

What drew you to Latin American and Caribbean Studies?
As a first-generation Latina, growing up and attending school in the US, I never had the opportunity to learn about Latin America or Latinx history. The LACS major has allowed me to learn more about these topics in a formal academic setting.

What have been your most memorable class(es) and/or experience(s) while at UChicago?
One of my favorite classes at UChicago was Trade, Development, and Poverty in Mexico with Chad Broughton. Not only did I enjoy the content, but this class was also a turning point in my undergraduate career. I originally intended to major in Biology, but this class opened a world of possibilities for me which ultimately led me to choose Public Policy and LACS.

What do you like about being a LACS major?
I really like the flexibility that the major offers me to take classes that I am genuinely interested in as well as the variety of classes across disciplines that are offered. I also like that LACS is a small major and it gives me the chance to get to know the other LACS majors more.

What topic(s) are you interested in exploring in your capstone project?
I am interested in exploring topics related to violence, conflict, and corruption in Mexico.

What career/academic routes do you wish to pursue post-graduation?
I am interested in pursuing work in the field of human rights, possibly in immigration. I would like to pursue a graduate degree or attend law school in the future.

Have you studied/traveled abroad? If so, where? If not, where would you like to go?
I will be studying abroad in Oaxaca during Winter quarter!

Any fun facts about yourself you’d like to share?
I was born on leap year, so I have only had 5 birthdays.

Zoe Alexandra Wynne, Fourth-Year LACS/Public Policy Major

What drew you to Latin American and Caribbean Studies?
The biggest thing that drew me to the major was my desire to learn more about the history of the places that my family is from. I also appreciate the fact that the classes are multi-disciplinary, engaging, and fun.

What have been your most memorable class(es) and/or experience(s) while at UChicago?
At UChicago, my favorite sequence of classes was my Humanities core, Reading Cultures. It really opened up new ways for me to write, think, and branch out. In fact, these classes gave me the courage to look more into the Latin American & Caribbean Studies classes/major. Alongside Humanities, taking Latin American Civilization Studies was also one of my most formative UChicago experiences. I absolutely loved the readings for the classes as well as the amazing TAs that made discussion every week so interesting.

What do you like about being a LACS major?
I love how in LACS you can cross multiple disciplines in one major. You can take a music class, a literature class, a history class, an anthropology class, a public policy class, etc. I also just love the content and every class I take within the major feels meaningful.

What topic(s) are you interested in exploring in your capstone project?
I am interested in exploring the Latino vote and how Latinidad functions within the political space.

What career/academic routes do you wish to pursue post-graduation?
Post-graduation, I want to work in the research and policy space with a focus on income inequality and US Latino issues.

Have you studied/traveled abroad? If so, where? If not, where would you like to go?
I am going abroad to Barcelona with the Public Policy department this spring. I had planned to take Latin American Civilization abroad in Oaxaca last year, but due to COVID the program was unfortunately cancelled.

Any fun facts about yourself you’d like to share?
The first time that I experienced fall and saw the leaves change colors was my first year in college.