A talk by Ambassador Charles S. Shapiro, Senior Coordinator for the Western Hemisphere Free Trade Agreements Task Force, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Ambassador Charles Shapiro was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (2005-2007) and U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela (February 2002 until August 2004). In addition to his posting as Ambassador to Venezuela, he has served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. embassies in Santiago, Chile and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Other overseas postings include El Salvador and Denmark. His Washington assignments include Director of the Office of Cuban Affairs as well as various assignments in Public Affairs, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and Western Hemisphere Affairs. Ambassador Shapiro was the recipient of a Presidential Meritorious Service Award in 2005.
Event Organized by the Center for Latin American Studies, co-sponsored by the Norman Wait Harris Fund of the Center for International Studies at the University of Chicago
The Latin American Briefing Series
Hosted by The University of Chicago Center for Latin American Studies, The Latin American Briefing Series is a podcast that captures live discussions from campus, where scholars and policy specialists break down the region's most pressing current affairs. Each episode is a deep dive into the social, political, and cultural dynamics shaping countries from Mexico to Argentina. You'll hear nuanced conversations that move beyond headlines, offering historical context and expert analysis on everything from electoral shifts and economic policy to artistic movements and social change. This isn't just a lecture series recorded for audio; it's an accessible entry point for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of contemporary Latin America. The podcast serves as an auditory extension of the Center's mission, fostering informed dialogue through these unfiltered talks. These recordings are made possible through collaboration, including support from a Department of Education National Resource Center grant to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/University of Chicago Consortium for Latin American Studies and co-sponsorship by the International House Global Voices program. Tune in for thoughtful, substantive content that treats the region with the depth and seriousness it deserves.
