Natalie Hartman Wins Consortium Award at Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies Conference
March 28, 2017
Institute for the Study of the Americas
Natalie Hartman, associate director for the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies received the 2017 Award for Dedicated Service for Promoting the Study of Latin America and the Caribbean at the banquet for the Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies (SECOLAS) conference held at the Carolina Inn March 24, 2017. The award was given by The Consortium in Latin American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University.
Hartman was recognized for her 27 years with the Consortium since its inception in 1989-1990. Hartman has been a central leader in collaborating with area study centers to expand Consortium programs between Duke University and UNC, and her influence is clear.
“Natalie’s commitment, attention to detail and hard work have long been a driving force for the Consortium,” UNC Institute for the Study of the Americas associate director Beatriz Riefkohl Muñiz said. “In a career that spans almost three decades, she has dedicated herself to strengthening the study of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
That strengthening of the study of Latin America and the Caribbean included securing grant funding from a single five-year grant in 1991 to today having multiple grants, Title VI funding (part of the U.S. Department of Education) and expanding opportunity to graduate and undergraduate students to travel and learn less commonly taught languages.
As a Spanish undergraduate major, Hartman graduated and worked at the Tinker foundation in New York City before focusing on Latin American studies. She then pursued a Master’s degree in Latin American studies from Tulane University and went back to work at the Tinker foundation before being invited to apply to the Consortium position.
Twenty-seven years later, she is still leading a strong Duke/UNC Consortium partnership.
“The two universities complement each other in the resources we have to offer,” Hartman said. “It’s a wonderful partnership, and the combination of our best resources helps makes it a stronger program.”
The Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies’ annual conference for 2017 was integrated into and formed part of the 64th annual meeting of the Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies (SECOLAS), hosted by the Consortium at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Scholars from all over the southeast gathered to share their expertise, and some of those scholars Hartman knew as graduate students years ago. Hartman said being able to receive the award in front of the community she’s seen grown made the moment even more meaningful.
“I feel very honored to be recognized for the work I’ve been doing all these years; it’s been something I’ve really enjoyed,” Hartman said. “It’s an honor and a lot of fun to be involved, and to be recognized was very special.”