Sergio Villalobos-Ruminott, LSA Professor of Spanish and Latin American studies, was elected to The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) for a term beginning May 1.

Villalobos-Ruminott will serve for one year to take over Vice Chair J. Caitlin Finlayson’s term, who is stepping down to take a leave. He was voted in electronically on March 21-22 by the Senate Assembly.

SACUA is the executive arm of the U-M Faculty Senate and the Senate Assembly. SACUA members advise and consult with the university’s executive officers on matters of policy that impact faculty interests.

In a statement to the University Record, Villalobos-Ruminott spoke about increasing representation within leadership. “Diversity ranging from gender, race, sexuality is a fundamental component of higher education, and I am fully committed to securing that diversity beyond merely formal and performative actions,” he said.

Villalobos-Ruminott teaches Latin American modern and contemporary poetry at the undergraduate level and Latin American Marxism, at the graduate level. He has written many books, articles and publications as well, focusing his research on the literary, visual and cultural forms and practices of imagination in Latin American history.

He began his journey in Chile, relocated to The University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to complete his PhD, then worked at the University of Arkansas before coming to U-M.

Villalobos-Ruminott has an active profile on Academia where he shares his views with a public audience.