The Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Sharon Mújica

Yucatec Maya Program Director, Carolina and Duke Consortium
Phone: (919) 962-2414

Sharon received a certificate in Latin American Studies from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and a B.A. from UNC-CH. She serves as a member of the Steering Committee of the national Consortium of Latin American and Caribbean Studies Programs (CLASP) and chairs the CLASP Committee on Language Teaching. In her years with the Institute and the UNC-Duke Consortium, Sharon has traveled frequently to Mexico and also to Peru, Belize, Cuba, Central America, and Brazil. She lived in Spain for two years and in Mexico for twenty years. Sharon has published materials and curated exhibits on Mexican culture and Yucatec Maya culture and language. Contact Sharon Mújica

Fidencio Briceño Chel

With his research specialization on Yucatec Maya language and culture, Fidencio Briceño Chel has over fifteen years of experience teaching Yucatec Maya. As a native of Mexico, he lives and works in Yucatán Mexico. He received his PhD at the Universidad Au tó noma de México and has numerous publications including "Las diferencias de 'querer': distinction entre verbo y auxiliary en el maya yucateco" in Tercer Congreso de Estudios Mayas.

Tomás Gallareta Negrón

Tomás Gallareta Negrón is an internationally known archaeologist, who has conducted research for Mexico's INAH in the Northern Maya Lowlands, for over 25 years. He has worked at such important Maya sites as Cobá, Uxmal, Chichen Itzá, and Isla Cerritos. He is currently the Director of the Labná and Xocnaceh archaeological projects. Born in Yucatán, Mexico, Tomás is co-Director of the Kiuic-Labná Region Project, and the main representative of Kaxil Kiuic in México.

Miguel Güémez Pineda

Miguel Güémez Pineda is a native Maya speaker who will receive his PhD at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma in 2006. His research specialization is medical anthropology as well as in Yucatec language and culture. His most recent publication is "Consideraciones sobre la Lengua Maya de Yucatán" in Palabra en Flor, Nicte'T'aan. He is also working on a forthcoming book "Mexican Midwives: Continuity, Controversy, and Change."

Ismael May May

Ismael May May was born in Kimbilá, municipality of Izamal, Yucatán. He got his education at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán. Nowadays he is a professor at the Academic University of Social Sciences and Humanities which is part of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico in Mérida, Yucatán. He is also studying for a Masters Degree in Social Anthropology. At present, he is also an advisor for indigenous languages for the National Guide for Culture and Art. In 2001, he received the Itzamná Priz, the first ever given in Maayan literature. He has participated in various paper forums about the language and is author of Kan Maaya (Learn Mayan with short dialogues) for teaching the language.

David Mora Marín

A Mayanist linguist and the Assistant Professor of the Department of Linguistics at UNC-CH, David-Mora Marín's research specializations include Mayan linguistics and epigraphy, (especially in historical linguistics and the study of ancient Mayan hieroglyphic writing), issues of language and power and civilization studies, and art history and archaeology of ancient Costa Rican societies. Marín received his PhD at the State University of New York at Albany in 2001 and his most recent publication is "Kaminaljuyu Stela 10: Script Classification and Linguistic Affiliation."

John Tuxill

John Tuxill, along with Ismael May May, is our Maya professor for the Level II course. John finished at Yale University in 2005 with a doctor of philosophy with distinction from the Joint Program in Economic Botany at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and the New York Botanical Garden. His dissertation focused on agrarian change and crop diversity in the Mayan milpas of Yucatan. John took both Level I and Level II of the Maya intensive language course as well as spending more than eighteen months living, working and perfecting his language skills in the village of Yaxcabá in Yucatan. He is still very connected to the village and returns each summer to participate in the Ch’a’ Cháak rain calling ceremony and to spend time with Mayan friends there. John is presently a visiting lecturer at Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Western Washington University, in Bellingham, Washington. John Tuxill’s knowledge of the area and cross cultural experience make him an ideal mentor to the students in both levels and we are very glad to have him as a new faculty members.

Michael Vrooman

Michael Vrooman is an Assistant Professor of Modern Language and Literatures at Grand Valley State University. He received his PhD at the University of Massachusetts in 2000. His research includes Hispanic and Mayan Linguistics, and most recent publication is "Maya and Mayan Languages" in the Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Vrooman is also currently working on a forthcoming book "BICS vs. CALP: When Basic Word May Not Be So Basic."