Bio

Elizabeth Sáenz-Ackermann has served as the associate director of the Stanford Center for Latin American Studies since 2012, after overseeing academic and outreach programs at the Center for Latin American Studies at San Diego State University. Originally from Ciudad Juárez, she earned her bachelor's degree in Mexico and her master's in Latin American Studies in the United States. Elizabeth first visited a Zapatista community in 1997, and since then, she has been involved in accompanying the Zapatista movement. This journey has shaped her thinking and influenced her perspective on life and academia.

Elizabeth provides administrative leadership for the Center. She oversees Center programming, administering various fellowship and grant programs and visiting professorships, including a U.S. Department of Education National Resource Center grant, Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships, and the Tinker Visiting Professorship. She directs undergraduate and graduate degree programs, manages the Center’s budget, fundraising, and outreach, and supervises the administrative staff. She supports and advises the Director in developing and setting program priorities, in policy and decision making, in liaising with other units on campus, and in representing the Center on and off campus. She serves as an academic advisor for LAS degree candidates and co-teaches the LAS graduate writing seminar.

Current Role at Stanford

Elizabeth provides administrative leadership for the Center. She oversees Center programming, administering various fellowship and grant programs and visiting professorships, including a U.S. Department of Education National Resource Center grant, Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships, and the Tinker Visiting Professorship. She directs undergraduate and graduate degree programs, manages the Center’s budget, fundraising, and outreach, and supervises the administrative staff. She supports and advises the Director in developing and setting program priorities, in policy and decision making, in liaising with other units on campus, and in representing the Center on and off campus. She serves as an academic advisor for LAS degree candidates and co-teaches the LAS graduate writing seminar.

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