The Institute of Latin American Studies Student Association (ILASSA) was formed by graduate students to encourage more active student participation in LLILAS and campus affairs concerning Latin American Studies and to provide a voice regarding the direction of the LLILAS program. ILASSA provides orientation activities and also sends representatives to the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) and other campus activities. Membership is open to all LLILAS students.
The association sponsors activities to foster exchanges on Latin American topics; to encourage involvement with the Latino community; to collect aid funds for disaster relief in Latin America; and to help in new student orientation. ILASSA also helps provide job- and internship-seeking services for graduate and undergraduate students. The annual Latin American Studies Student Conference is a major responsibility of the association.
ILASSA is also social in nature, sponsoring events during the term that focus on nonacademic pursuits. These include a highly successful coed intramural sports tradition, planned and impromptu parties. The institute provides a lounge in Sid Richardson Hall 1.302 for use by association members.
ILASSA’s annual Student Conference is the oldest student-run academic conference on Latin America in the country. The ILASSA Conference offers students from UT Austin as well as other institutions in the United States and abroad the opportunity to present their research in the style and atmosphere of an academic conference. Hosting the conference gives ILASSA a unique opportunity for leadership and a chance to share that special Austin and LLILAS warmth. ILASSA is responsible for nearly 100% of the logistics and fund-raising for the conference. Traditionally, ILASSA hosts an off-campus, non-university-sponsored fund-raising event that contributes to the costs of the conference. Conference participants visiting from outside the Austin area are housed by ILASSA students during their stay in Austin. The conference is funded by LLILAS, various academic departments within the University of Texas, and other events. Local businesses are solicited for contributions or discounts for the conference participants as well.
2023 ILASSA Conference Coordinators:
Ana Carolina Assumpção, César Ivan Alvarez-Ibarra, Denise Braz, Joseph Rojas, Paula Lezama, Pedro Castro and Rosa de Jong.