Harvard University’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) has decided to close. ReVista: gave Harvard Review of Latin AmericaBringing the curtain down on a publication that has been running for almost 28 years. The move comes at a time when the Center is navigating a deepening financial crisis and restructuring its priorities. As first reported by the Harvard Crimson, the decision also led to staff layoffs, including longtime editor-in-chief Jon C. Erlik. The final issue of the magazine has already been released, while a scheduled upcoming edition has been scrapped, marking a significant shift in the Center’s academic outreach strategy.
The editorial team was devastated when publication ended.
In a communication sent to subscribers in March, Erlik confirmed that the magazine would cease operations due to financial constraints. Along with the shutdown, his post at the center has also been terminated.Faculty Director Steven Levitsky confirmed that the phase-in decision had been made. ReVista was taken earlier and was part of a broader restructuring effort. The leave also extends to additional staff roles associated with the publication.
Funding constraints lead to changes in priorities.
Levitsky said the decision reflects the need to channel limited resources into core educational work. These include research funding, student programs in Latin America, visiting scholar initiatives, and public academic discussions.He noted that the center is looking to expand its academic offerings in Mexican and Latino studies, citing growing student demand. He added that maintaining financial stability is essential to sustaining these priorities.
From print legacy to digital obsolescence
ReVista Began as a modest newsletter in the late 1990s and gradually evolved into a prominent publication examining social, political, and cultural issues in Latin America. Under Erlik’s leadership, it built a strong academic and journalistic identity.The magazine had already switched to an online-only format in 2019 following budget constraints. Its complete closure now signals the end of a longstanding intellectual platform within Harvard’s Latin American studies ecosystem.
Widespread cuts and financial stress at Harvard
The closure is part of a series of cost-cutting measures at DRCLAS, which is reportedly facing a deficit of close to $1 million. Previous moves have included closing regional offices in Chile and Mexico and reducing staff numbers.Levitsky attributed the financial stress to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, reduced funding streams, and rising institutional costs. Broader financial pressures at Harvard have compounded the situation, with university leadership, including CFO Ritu Kalra, acknowledging the challenging financial environment.(with input from Harvard Crimson)
