The Roberto C. Goizueta Distinguished Presidential Residence Program

Award Period

Distinguished Fellows begin their residence at CHC no earlier than August 1 and conclude no later than May 31. The CHC awards one two-semester fellowship or two one-semester fellowships in an award year, depending on applicant preferences and a thorough review of the applicant pool.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Fellows advance in-depth research and writing toward a project of scholarly merit or broad public interest based on a particular area of the Collection and related to Cuba and/or the Cuban diaspora, broadly defined.
• Drawing on their research at the collection, fellows deliver a public lecture open to UM faculty, students, and the greater South Florida community toward the end of their residencies. In consultation with CHC faculty and staff, year-long fellows may opt to develop and participate in a larger public program related to their research, such as a panel discussion, symposium, and/or performance.
• Fellows are expected to be in residence at the Cuban Heritage Collection during the fellowship period. This means a minimum of three full days a week conducting research in or writing from the collection. (Exceptions can be made for absences involving short-term travel, illness, and holidays.) Fellows are also highly encouraged to attend CHC public and academic events during their stay.
• While this is not a teaching position, Fellows are expected to be open to engaging with University of Miami faculty, patrons of the CHC, and students in the UM’s Program in Cuban Studies, whether through class visits or individual consultations. The CHC is a close partner of the undergraduate Program in Cuban Studies.

 

Eligibility and Qualifications

Senior faculty, independent scholars, journalists, curators, and other non-fiction authors who are recognized leaders in their fields are eligible to serve as Distinguished Fellows. Applicants must demonstrate excellence and exceptional capacity in their areas of expertise. They must also clearly indicate how materials held at the CHC are relevant to the work they wish to develop while in residence and be appropriate to the time frame of the residency they request.

 

Compensation / Financial Details

Stipend: $7,500 per month

Housing supplement: $1,000 per month

Disclaimer: For U.S. nationals and residents, the stipend and housing supplement are paid as miscellaneous income, meaning taxes are not ordinarily withheld, even though the income is generally taxable. (Taxes may be withheld for candidates from outside the United States.) Healthcare and retirement benefits are not included in the base fellowship award. U.S.-based applicants are expected to maintain enrollment in benefits programs with their home institutions/employers and are encouraged to request top-up pay, as relevant, when requesting research leaves. We work with candidates from outside the United States and the University of Miami’s Office of International Student and Scholar Services to support J-1 visa applications, cover visa application costs, and provide an additional stipend for healthcare coverage. The Cuban Heritage Collection abides by all U.S. federal laws in administering this fellowship program.

Fellows are provided with an office within the Otto G. Richter Library on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus.

 

Application Process

Applications are now closed and will reopen in Fall 2026 for the 2027-2028 award year.

Applications are submitted via Interfolio and must include the following:

• Completed application form
• Curriculum Vitae
• A 2- to 3-page cover letter outlining the scope of the proposed research and writing project
• An annotated list of Cuban Heritage Collection materials—including books, periodicals, archives, and/or manuscripts—to be consulted during the residency period. The list need not be exhaustive; however, applicants are encouraged to identify potential resources using the CHC catalog, archival collection descriptions, Digital Collections and research guides.

Applications are reviewed by CHC faculty and members of the CHC’s Academic Advisory Committee. We accept applications in English or Spanish.

 

Questions?

Questions about the program should be directed to:

Michael J. Bustamante, Ph.D.
Emilio Bacardí Moreau Chair in Cuban and Cuban-American Studies
Director of Academic Programs, Cuban Heritage Collection
m.bustamante@miami.edu

Annie Sansone-Martínez
Manager, Academic and Community Programs, Cuban Heritage Collection
a.sansone@umiami.edu