The Roberto C. Goizueta Distinguished Presidential Residence Program

The Cuban Heritage Collection (CHC) of the University of Miami Libraries invites applications for the 2027-2028 Roberto C. Goizueta Distinguished Presidential Residence program.

Award Period

Distinguished Fellows begin their residence at CHC no earlier than August 1, 2027 and conclude no later than May 31, 2028. The CHC awards two one-semester fellowships in an award year, in the fall and spring semesters respectively, following a thorough review of the applicant pool.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Fellows advance in-depth research and writing toward a project of broad scholarly or public significance (typically a book) 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.
• 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 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, curators, and other non-fiction authors from the United States and abroad 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.

 

Compensation / Financial Details

Stipend: $8,500 per month

Disclaimers:

Healthcare coverage, housing, and retirement benefits are not included in the fellowship award.

For U.S. nationals and residents, the stipend is paid as miscellaneous income, meaning taxes are not ordinarily withheld, even though the income is generally taxable. 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.

Applicants from outside the United States require a J-1 exchange visitor visa from the U.S. Department of State, sponsored by the University of Miami, to participate in this program. Such applicants are highly encouraged to apply for a spring 2028 residency to allow sufficient time for J-1 visa application processing. Purchasing healthcare coverage in the United States for the duration of the residency is a requirement of a J-1 visa. For more information on J-1 visa requirements and sponsorship procedures, interested international applicants may contact chc@miami.edu. Taxes may be withheld from stipend payments for fellowship winners from outside the United States.

 

Application Process

Applications in English or Spanish will be accepted from September 21, 2026, through December 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT for the 2027-2028 award year.

Application

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
• AAn 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

Audrey Jaramillo
Coordinator, Academic and Community Programs, Cuban Heritage Collection
amjaramillo@miami.edu