Adolfo Leyva, PhD

Dr. Adolfo Leyva is Associate Professor of International Relations and Latin American History. He holds a Ph.D. in Interamerican Studies (1994) from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Miami, Florida, and a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies, with a major in Economics (1979) from the Center of Latin American Studies in Gainesville, Florida. He is most proud of his Seminole roots: he is a graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and History (1977).

As a Latin Americanist, his main area of expertise is the Caribbean (with emphasis on Cuba) and Mexico, but he loves teaching the history of Brazil, a country where he lived while conducting research on Latin American export promoting policies as part of a project sponsored by the Organization of American States.

His favorite topics in the area of international relations are the historical evolution of the international system, the foreign policies and international relations of the countries of Latin America, as well as the role of international organizations in the international system. His course on international organizations has served to prepare students for internships, or for a permanent position, in one of the many United Nations agencies at Ciudad del Saber.

Dr. Leyva founded, and for many years coordinated, the Debate Club by training students and promoting fund-raising activities to facilitate their participation in the Harvard-led World Model United Nations Conferences held in countries such as Germany, China, Egypt, and Mexico.

His most recent book, Florida and the Mariel Boat lift of 1980, was the winner of the Florida Historical Society´s 2015 Stetson Kennedy Award.