UF experts available to comment on Cuban situation

February 19, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The following experts at the University of Florida are available today to speak to the news media about the impact of Fidel Castro’s resignation as president of Cuba:

Terry McCoy is a professor emeritus of Latin American studies and political science and director of the Latin American Business Environment Program. As a specialist in the political economy of Latin America and U.S.-Latin American relations, McCoy has taught, conducted research and consulted throughout the hemisphere. He can be reached at 352-392-0375, ext. 808, tlmccoy@latam.ufl.edu.

William A. Messina Jr. is an agricultural economist with the Food and Resource Economics Department in UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). He is the founding co-director of the department’s comprehensive research initiative on Cuba’s agricultural sector, which continues to be conducted in collaboration with a team of researchers at the University of Havana, Cuba. He can be reached at 352-392-1826, ext. 308, wamess@ufl.edu.

Carmen Diana Deere is director of the Center for Latin American Studies at UF and professor of food and resource economics. Her geographic expertise includes Cuba, and her research interests include gender, land policy and agricultural development. She can be reached at 352-392-0375, ext. 801, deere@ufl.edu.