The University of Texas at Austin study abroad program Ancient and Colonial Heritage in Latin America: Cultural Treasures of the Maya offers an interdisciplinary overview of the heritage of Central America through Maya and Colonial culture and history in Guatemala and Belize.
Based at Casa Herrera, UT Austin’s educational and research facility in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Antigua, Guatemala, this May Term program offers students hands-on observation and extensive travel throughout Guatemala and Belize to experience archaeological sites, museums, villages, cooperative businesses, natural reserves and protected ecosystems.
Students are matched with local family stays for their time in Antigua, where they learn about a civilization spanning thousands of years from the latest research in art history, archaeology, history, linguistics, and anthropology. Students interact with contemporary Maya people and learn about the ancient sites built by their ancestors. They examine how the Maya of more recent times and people from other ethnic backgrounds still adapt to a changing global setting in these dynamic countries shaped by Spanish and British colonial histories. Through this program they gain a broad understanding of the potential of and the challenges faced by Latin American countries like Guatemala and Belize, their cultural richness, their complex histories, and their dynamic relationship with the United States and other global powers.
Meet the May Term Faculty Leader and Program Staff
Hello! I am Astrid Runggaldier, Assistant Director of The Mesoamerica Center at UT Austin, and faculty leader of this study abroad May Term program. I am interested in the archaeology and architecture of Mesoamerican cultures, and have excavated ancient Maya sites in Guatemala and Belize. I am from Italy, but I have traveled extensively throughout Central America and speak Spanish fluently, so I think of Guatemala and Belize as my other homes. When you cannot find me at my desk at Casa Herrera, I am most likely wandering the halls of the local markets, taking pictures of crafts, Maya textiles, and tropical fruit.
Hey everyone! My name is Milady Casco and I am the Programs Manager at Casa Herrera, an extension of The Mesoamerica Center and UT’s academic research facility in Antigua, Guatemala. My family is from El Salvador, but I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. My academic background is in art history, Spanish studies, and art education. Over the years, I have worked for various non-profit organizations in performing arts, visual arts, and education in California, Spain, and Texas. I have been living in Antigua Guatemala and working at Casa Herrera since 2011. I love Central America and I enjoy engaging students in unique cultural and artistic experiences! I also absolutely love pupusas <3.