The Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS) at The University of Texas at Austin is an interdisciplinary center for the study of Latin America that integrates more than 30 academic departments and over 160 faculty across the university, offering programs that lead to BA, MA, and PhD degrees, as well as a range of dual MA degree programs.
In 2011, LLILAS established a partnership with the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection, one of the world’s premiere repositories of Latin American and U.S. Latina/o materials. LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections pairs the abundant scholarly resources of the collection with the teaching and research focus of the institute. The partnership has opened exciting new opportunities in the digital humanities, as well as meaningful collaborations with partners in Latin America, and holds the promise of becoming a model for the global public university of the twenty-first century.
Teresa Lozano Long (1928–2021)
Born and raised in the south Texas town of Premont, Dr. Teresa Lozano Long was a pioneer in education and philanthropy, as well as a passionate supporter of the arts, along with her husband Joe R. Long. She was the first Hispanic woman to earn a doctorate in health and physical education at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Long was honored at the White House in 2019 with a National Endowment for the Humanities Medal.
In 2000, the Longs pledged an endowment gift of $10 million to support the Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS). As one outcome of this gift, the institute is now known as the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, or LLILAS.
Proud Texas Exes, the Longs were honored for their philanthropy in 2018 with the Santa Rita Award, the highest honor bestowed by the University of Texas Board of Regents. Read more about Dr. Long’s powerful legacy.
