The Cuban Research Institute (CRI) of Florida International University is pleased to welcome four new threatened Cuban scholars in the humanities for the fall semester of 2025. The scholars are Carlos Manuel Alvarez Rodríguez, journalist, author and co-founder of the independent online magazine El Estornudo; Carla Gloria Colomé Santiago, journalist and also co-founder of El Estornudo; Celia Irina González Alvarez, anthropologist and visual artist; and Fabiana Salgado Bernal, film director, editor and graphic designer.
The Cuban government has a long history of conflict with independent intellectuals, including artists, writers, academics and journalists. This confrontation intensified dramatically since 2018, leading to successive demonstrations of open defiance against the regime such as the San Isidro, the 27-N and the Archipiélago movements. Since then, numerous intellectuals and artists have been harassed, arrested, imprisoned or expelled from Cuba because of their dissident political beliefs and activities.
CRI is grateful to the Mellon Foundation for funding the first comprehensive program in the United States for Cuban intellectuals who face severe threats to their work on the island, because of their ideas, public interventions or participation in peaceful demonstrations.
While in residence at CRI, each of the fellows will work on a scholarly, artistic or cultural project, and will participate in a panel discussion to be held at FIU this Fall.