Center for Latin American Studies – University of Pittsburgh
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| Established | 1964 |
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| Director | Scott Morgenstern |
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Campus | Oakland (Main) |
| Website | http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/ |
The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Latin American Studies, commonly known as CLAS, is a National Resource Center on Latin America. The Center, founded in 1964 as part of the university's Center for International Studies, offers undergraduate and graduate students multidisciplinary training on Latin American and Caribbean studies.
The Center for Latin American Studies states that its mission is to "expand and enrich academic resources relating to Latin America and the Caribbean at the University of Pittsburgh". It assists students in gaining expertise in Latin American and Caribbean affairs, and encourages the faculty to "pursue research, enhance their expertise, and disseminate new knowledge on the region". CLAS shares its resources with academic local, national, and international academic communities, public and private sector organizations, as well as the general public.
CLAS is located on the University of Pittsburgh's main campus in the city’s Oakland neighborhood. CLAS’s offices are found in the Center for International Studies on the 4th floor of Welsey Posvar Hall, Pitt’s largest academic building. Posvar Hall stands along Schenley Drive between Forbes Avenue and Roberto Clemente Drive. The Center is located on the former site of Forbes Field where the Pittsburgh Pirates played from 1909 to 1970 and won multiple World Series.
The Center was formally founded on September 16, 1964 during Chancellor Edward H. Litchfield’s tenure at the University. Realizing the globalizing effect of World War II and witnessing the city of Pittsburgh’s role in global affairs, the Pitt administration became dedicated to transitioning from a University serving primarily Pennsylvania to one with a more global impact. Litchfield’s goal for the Center was to strengthen the University’s “International Dimension,” particularly with regard to Latin America. Litchfield cited Latin America’s “important economic, social and political ties with the United States” in advocating for the establishment of a Center. With a five-year, $1.5 million grant from the Ford Foundation awarded in 1964, Litchfield hired political scientist Cole Blasier to direct the founding of the Center.
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