Rest In Peace: Professor David Scott Palmer | Latin American Studies

Rest In Peace: Professor David Scott Palmer

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The Center of Latin American Studies at Boston University deeply regrets the loss of Professor David Scott Palmer, a prominent scholar in the field of Latin America Studies and Inter-American relations and founder of the Latin American Studies Program at Boston University. Scott also created and directed a student exchange program in Peru. The author of six books and more than sixty articles and book chapters, he was without question the driving force behind Latin American Studies at Boston University. He supported student initiatives, mentored junior faculty, and promoted academic exchange among Latin Americanists in Boston and around the world. He taught through the fall of 2017 and died while still an active member of the Latin American Studies academic community at Boston University, directing theses and mentoring students. His contributions and guidance were decisive for the transformation of the Latin American Studies Program into a Center of Latin American Studies a year ago.

Scott touched the lives of many students and colleagues and will be missed greatly.

Associate Professor Taylor Boas (Political Science) describes him as, “The single most welcoming person to me as a new junior faculty member at BU. A great scholar, teacher, adviser, and a true lover of Latin America.”

Que en paz descanse.

Statement on Diversity and Inclusion

The Center for Latin American Studies at Boston University is proud of BU’s history of diversity and inclusion. BU’s founders opened the University’s doors to all students without regard to religion, race, or gender, and building and sustaining a vibrant community of scholars, students, and staff remains essential to its mission of contributing to and preparing students to thrive in, an increasingly interconnected world.

Success in a competitive, global milieu depends upon our ongoing commitment to welcome and engage the wisdom, creativity, and aspirations of all peoples and the Center for Latin American Studies is vital to the University’s mission of preparing global citizens. We forge concrete initiatives to integrate faculty and students across the university in the promotion of antiracism, diversity, and inclusion from a Latin American Studies perspective. Through our in-depth and interdisciplinary academic programs, as well as through a rich array of talks, lectures, round-table discussions, conferences, and other educational and cultural events, we assist the University in its efforts to create environments for learning, working, and living that are enriched by racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity.

At the Center for Latin American Studies, we believe in and practice respect for individual differences in life experience, sexual orientation, and religious belief, and we aspire to be free of intellectual parochialism, barriers to access, and ethnocentrism. We appreciate and deeply value the contributions and talents of every member of the Boston University community and invite you to learn more about us.