Latin American Studies Grad Student Wins Carter Center Fellowship
Honor granted to students researching democracy, social justice in Latin America
Joshua Bruno, a master’s candidate in Latin American studies at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, has been selected to receive the third-ever Margaret and Robert Pastor Graduate Assistant Fellowship, granted by the Carter Center.
“The only other times this fellowship has been granted has been to students from George Washington University and the London School of Economics,” he says. “It is a tremendous honor, and I am so grateful for my professors encouraging me to apply.”
The Pastor Fellowship is granted to a student who speaks both English and Spanish and is undertaking research in Latin America, with a focus on issues such as democracy or social justice. Bruno says that he first conceived an interest in Latin American issues when volunteering as a children’s sports coach in Bolivia in 2011.
“My goal is to work for a nongovernmental organization that advocates for human rights in Latin America,” he says. “So the mission of the Carter Center fits in perfectly with what I want to do. Their work is invaluable for deepening democracy, providing election freedoms, and ensuring government transparency.”
During his ten-week fellowship, which will take place during summer 2015, Bruno will focus on research examining the link between Colombian gold mining and civil unrest. “The fellowship provides me the opportunity to conduct research in Latin America, which is wonderful,” he says. “I will also get the chance to travel to Georgia and meet former president Jimmy Carter.”
The Carter Center, in partnership with Emory University, is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering.