By Dr. Kristin Drexler
Faculty Member, School of STEM
with Dr. Michelle Watts
Associate Dean, School of Security and Global Studies
and Andy Crabb
Doctoral Student, Doctor of Global Security
In June, we traveled to the beautiful city of Bogotá, Colombia, to present our most recent COVID-19 pandemic research at the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Conference. The presentation shared the findings and methodology from our continuing study of COVID-19 research in Indigenous communities in Alaska, New Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.
This research, supported by University grants, is now in its third year. The LASA Conference allowed us to not only share our project with other professors, but also to learn about other current research in our fields.
For example, scholars discussed a range of issues, including the long recovery after the civil war in Colombia as well as democracy and disaster management throughout Latin America. One panelist described an innovative program in Brazil that educates citizens to combat environmental extractavism (or environmental damage/abuse). Another young scholar lightened the mood by talking about love and WhatsApp® during the pandemic.
Café y Cultura (Coffee and Culture)
In addition to the LASA Conference, we took some time to get to know the local culture. Michelle met one of her doctoral students, Andy Crabb, who also attended the LASA Conference.
We all met for the best Colombian “tinto” coffee in the world-famous marketplace, La Perservancia. “Tinto” is a slightly sweetened coffee that comes from a local recipe. It was delicious, as was the great variety of foods found in the different stalls representing different regions of Colombia.
Visiting Bogotá, Colombia
We took a side trip to the beautiful Salt Cathedral (La Catedral de Sal) in Zipaquirá. National Public Radio (NPR) notes that this unique cathedral is a former salt mine located 600 feet underground. According to NPR, “At the bottom, the temple opens up to reveal three naves representing the birth, life and death of Christ. There is a basilica dome, chandeliers, and an enormous, floor-to-ceiling cross illuminated with purple lights.”
We also saw the Plaza Mayor and Bogotá’s incredible graffiti district, La Candelaria, which features incredible artwork adorning almost every wall in the area. The murals are not isolated to one district but can be found throughout Bogotá. Candelaria was a highlight, however, and within walking distance of the Plaza Mayor.
Graffiti montage in La Candelaria district and a local cathedral. Images courtesy of Kristi Drexler.
While we were walking around La Candelaria, a group of college students approached Kristi to interview her in English for their class project.
Also, a favorite part of being in Bogotá was getting to know our driver, Jorge. In addition to safely getting us to and from the conference, Jorge was a wealth of local and cultural information.
A Perspective on the LASA Conference from Doctoral Student Andy Crabb
We asked Andy Crabb, a current doctoral student here at the University, about his experience at the LASA Conference. Andy said, “Overall, the LASA experience was fantastic and one I will seek to repeat. With the benefit of my experiences, I’m certain the next LASA Conference or any other academic conference I attend will be even better.”
Participating in the conference was enormously beneficial to Andy. It helped to advance his research on his proposed dissertation topic, which seeks to assess the reintegration of former female guerillas into Colombian society. Andy met with a professor who teaches at the Colombian War College and with a member of the Colombian Special Forces while visiting Bogotá.
Kristi met up with Andy for sightseeing in Monserrate, which overlooks lovely Bogotá and is a major tourist attraction. Andy explained that the last time he was in Bogotá in the early 2000s, it wasn’t safe to venture out even to tourist destinations, so this venture to Monserrate was a long-awaited experience.
Andy noted, “My previous trips as a member of the U.S. military were focused on helping the Colombians defeat the FARC, and my current focus and travel involve helping the Colombians reconcile with demobilized FARC insurgents.”
Andy said it’s important to take in and enjoy the local sights, cuisine, and culture. About Monserrate, he added, “In this idyllic location, a beautiful church sits atop the mountains overlooking Bogotá. It also features numerous restaurants and a touristy market.”
Also, Andy observed that “Understanding and appreciating some of the local culture and cuisine is an important part of being an international studies student. Most conferences have moments when one can afford to ‘play hooky’ for a few hours. It’s a personal and professional investment that should be embraced, promoted, and practiced.”
“As a doctoral student in global security, I eagerly responded when the news came out that the LASA Conference would be held in Colombia, in June. Because I have a master’s degree in Latin American Studies, I knew LASA was the premiere event for scholars and practitioners to share Latin American-related research, insights, and regional developments.
“The other doctoral students in my cohort all agreed that we wanted to sign up, attend, and present at this well-regarded annual conference. The call to present was exciting, as each of the members of my doctoral cohort had different ways to contribute their unique knowledge to the general topic.
What was equally exciting is that this would be my first time attending a purely academic conference like LASA. Little did I know that my journey to the LASA Conference would be filled with trials and tribulations that would provide many lessons (good and bad) to take forward to future conferences.
“In my case, my dissertation centered around an interesting – to me – subject taking place in Colombia. For that reason, I decided to attend the conference. Equally fortuitous, my dissertation chair, Dr. Michelle Watts, would also attend, allowing me to discuss my project with her in person.
“Approximately two months before the LASA Conference, I began to inquire about meeting with points of contact in my area of interest. Slowly, through friends and colleagues of other friends and colleagues, I built up a schedule of coffees, lunches, and meetings with various individuals who might assist in my dissertation research.
“I also took the opportunity to closely scrutinize the conference schedule to build an event-by-event personal itinerary. This work helped to ensure that I made it to presentations that covered areas aligned with my own dissertation project.
“Concerning the LASA Conference presentations I attended, many were fantastic. They provided insights into research challenges, the methods of navigating those challenges, and the subjects themselves. I followed every presentation aligned to my own with a short discussion with the lecturer.”
Attending LASA was incredibly beneficial. The conference expands our horizons as we meet scholars from around the world and learn about their research interests.
In addition, we experienced the rich culture of Bogota and learned more about the people and history of Colombia. Such firsthand experiences are irreplaceable.
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About the Authors
Dr. Kristin Drexler is a full-time faculty member in the Space Studies and Earth Sciences Department. She teaches geography, environmental science, conservation of natural resources, earth and planetary sciences, and sustainability for the School of STEM. Dr. Drexler holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from New Mexico State University and a master’s degree in Latin American studies with an emphasis in natural resources management from Ohio University. She earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership at New Mexico State University with research in socioecological systems, sustainable agroecology, and community education.
Dr. Drexler earned the Undergraduate Excellence in Teaching Award for the School of STEM (2020) and the Dr. Wallace E. Boston Leadership Award (2021). Dr. Drexler has conducted numerous community surveys in Belize and Guatemala regarding agroforestry, conservation, sustainable agriculture, and COVID-19 impacts and is a co-investigator for the multi-year research study, “A Case Study Comparison of Pandemic Experience of Indigenous Groups in the Americas.” In the late 1990s, Drexler served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Belize; she co-founded Full Basket Belize, a 501(c)(3) and has served on its Board of Directors since 2005. Drexler produced the award-winning short film Yochi; she also founded “Science Talks with Dr. Drexler and Friends” to assist teachers during the pandemic. Drexler also co-directs the Gila Film School and has produced seven documentary films sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service to celebrate the centennial of the Gila Wilderness this year. Drexler also serves as a faculty advisor for the University’s wSTEM, AWIS and SACNAS chapters.
Dr. Michelle Watts is the Associate Dean of the Department of Security and Global Studies, where she also teaches in the doctoral program. She has a bachelor’s degree in international studies from American University, a master’s degree in Latin American studies from the University of Arizona, and a Ph.D. in international development from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Dr. Watts has collaborated with colleagues on nine research grants encompassing a wide range of topics. Her work includes “Bomberos, Maestros y Psicólogos: Guatemalan Civil Society Response to the Volcano of Fire Disaster,”“Making Sovereignty Mean Something: Native Nations and Creative Adaptation,” “Drugs, Thugs, and the Diablos Rojos: Perils and Progress in Panama,” “Seguridad del Canal de Panamá: Una Década Después de la Salida de Estados Unidos” (Security of the Panama Canal: One Decade after U.S. Departure), and “Game of Norms: Panama, the International Community, and Indigenous Rights.” She is the principal investigator for the research study, “A Case Study Comparison of Pandemic Experience of Indigenous Groups in the Americas.”
Andrew ‘Buster’ Crabb (Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, retired) is a Professor of Practice at the Joint Special Operations University. He spent over 25 years on active duty in a variety of operational and training assignments. During that time, Andy deployed overseas a total of nine times, including operational deployments to Somalia, Colombia, and Afghanistan.
A career infantry officer, he was a plank holder in the establishment of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command (MARSOC). He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from The Citadel and a master’s degree in Latin American studies from Tulane University. Andy is currently a third-year student in the Doctor of Global Security program at American Public University.
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