Congratulations to Professor David Garcia on his appointment to the Scholarly Advisory Committee for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL)! NMAL selected 18 scholars from around the country, with expertise in a variety of disciplines, to serve on this new advisory committee as they continue planning for the new museum. The museum is still in development, as the legislation was recently passed in December of 2020 to create NMAL.
Per the official announcement from the Smithsonian, the National Museum of the American Latino established the committee to “guide the museum on important matters and provide input on the museum’s comprehensive plan to preserve, document, display/interpret and promote knowledge of U.S. Latino history, art and culture. … The 18 members of the Scholarly Advisory Committee include leaders from across various academic disciplines, such as architecture, anthropology, history and others. Together they will review exhibitions and long-distance learning and digital-engagement initiatives. An inaugural meeting will be held virtually in the spring. … Initial priorities include laying the groundwork for museum’s collections, research and publishing vision.”
“My parents immigrated from Ecuador to the United States in the late 1950s. I’m proud of them for what they’ve accomplished through hard work and sacrifice. I owe much to them,” reflected Professor Garcia. “For this reason, I’m especially happy to have been appointed to serve on the Scholarly Advisory Committee of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino.”
Read the full announcement from the Smithsonian here.
by Catherine Zachary, ’10