A specialist in Latin America with a PhD in anthropology and history from the University of Michigan, Ed has lived for several years in Chile and Guatemala. He counts his nine months as a volunteer at UPAVIM in 1998 and 1999 as one of the most challenging and inspiring experiences he has had in Latin America. The workers and volunteers at UPAVIM continue to develop impressive forms of solidarity and social well being in the face of tremendous hardship. Ed is thus happy to serve on UPAVIM’s board, which helps to fulfill his commitment to being a socially engaged scholar.