Latin American Studies Scholarship in Honor of Anne Dibble
Anne Dibble, longtime Graduate Program Coordinator for LLILAS, retired in 2008 after more than thirty years of service to the institute, during which time she became the pillar of our graduate and undergraduate programs. For many of you, Anne was so much more than a graduate or undergraduate adviser: she was a font of knowledge about how the University of Texas worked and how to make it work for our students. She was their advocate and supporter, the first person to turn to in seeking help or advice. Anne cared deeply about the broader mission of Latin American Studies, and she believed fervently in LAS students as its emissaries. We at LLILAS are very grateful to Anne for her immense contributions to the program over so many years, and as a symbol of this gratitude, we have inaugurated a fund-raising campaign to honor her.
We invite alumni as well as LLILAS friends to contribute to the Latin American Studies Scholarship in Anne's honor. These funds will be used to support and recruit top graduate students to LLILAS.
To make a donation online please visit this link or contact LLILAS Development Office Coordinator Gail Sanders at 512.232.2423.
Testimonials from Alumni
“Thank goodness for Anne Dibble! At so many places, people come and go. But Anne was an institution. I’ve even heard people say that she was the institute! For a grad student, she was the go-to person. Absolutely the best resource!”
—Sean Hale, Class of 2000
Executive Director, First Unitarian-Universalist Church of Austin
“My experience at LLILAS would not have been the same without her. Throughout the three years I spent at UT Austin, her guidance and support were invaluable. She was the heart and soul of the program.”
—Clare Ribando Seelke, Class of 2003
Analyst in Latin American Affairs, Congressional Research Service, Washington, D.C.
“I came to Austin in 1989. I was then a shy, first-year Mexican graduate student who was very nervous about speaking English, but when I first walked into Anne’s office, I encountered her smile and her enthusiasm, and she made my life easy from then on! Later on, I found a true friend in her.”
—Adela Pineda Franco, Class of 1991
Associate Professor of Spanish American Literature
Department of Romance Studies
Boston University
“It is near impossible to quantify how important she was to my personal and career development. Whether for a green incoming student, learning the ropes of a massive university structure, or an alum coming in to chat, her generosity and kindness was contagious and transcendent.”
—John Cuttino, Class of 1999
Brazil Representative
Port of Houston Authority
Houston, Texas
“I remember talking with her on the phone before coming to UT. She was the first voice that welcomed me to the program and drew me in; all that she did over the years made an impact on us and our future. Latin American Studies at UT will always have her imprint.”
—Sandra Wegmann, Class 2006
Manager, Strategic Initiatives
Center for Houston’s Future
Houston, Texas
