Pictured above: A photo taken by Evan Shenkin during his fieldwork in Bolivia. This mural stands outside the gates of the Higher University of San Andrés in La Paz. It reads: “All of our actions are a war cry against imperialism.”
In 2017, Evan Shenkin, a Sociology PhD candidate, received a CLLAS Tinker Foundation Grant to investigate how Bolivia’s government actions sometimes contradict its commitment to safeguarding indigenous rights. Through fieldwork and interviews, Shenkin showcased the determination of indigenous communities in advocating for their self-governance and environmental concerns, emphasizing the importance of balancing development with respect for indigenous rights and the environment.Today, Shenkin works as an Assistant Professor at Linfield University where he teaches courses that focus on the intersection of social and environmental issues, including international development in Latin America, environmental justice and racism, the relationship between society and the environment, and the economic and political factors driving ecological crises. Moreover, Evan is a passionate champion of labor unions and has committed substantial effort to promoting and defending the rights of workers in Oregon.“Thanks to the Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies and the Tinker Foundation, I was able to conduct fieldwork in many indigenous communities that were fighting extractivism in the Bolivian Amazon.” – Evan ShenkinClick here to read Evan’s research article from 2018.