A cathedral in Havana is one of the many places Dr. Dennis Bixler-Marquez visited while in Cuba.

With its rich history, colorful music and tasty Caribbean cuisine, the island of Cuba – only 90 miles from the shores of the U.S. – has long been a tantalizing destination for adventurous tourists.

But due to our country’s opposition to dictator Fidel Castro travel to Cuba is severely restricted. Typically, journalists, educators and those on humanitarian missions are among the few allowed passage to the island.

UTEP professor Dr. Dennis Bixler-Marquez, director of the UTEP Chicano Studies program, has traveled to Cuba nearly 15 times.

His time is mostly spent at conferences with fellow professors. But when he gets the chance, he loves to soak in the island’s unique culture.

“I try to ride in the old American cars and take in the Cuban musical experience of the fifties popularized in the U.S. by the Buena Vista Social Club (Cuban salsa and jazz band),” said Bixler-Marquez. “I make it a point to take in something new in the country or Havana every time.”

For over 11 years he has been researching Latin American issues, thanks in part to UTEP and its partnership with the Inter-University Program for Latino Research.

In 1994, the Cuba Research Exchange Program was established with UTEP and the Chicano Studies program, as part of an initiative of the IUPLR. The IUPLR is a national consortium of Latino Research Programs.

Bixler-Marquez shops at a local bodega in Havana. It's said to have been one of Ernest Hemingways' favorite hangouts.

“The IUPLR is concerned with informing and shaping the national research agenda on Latinos. It promotes an interface with the countries of origin of the Latino groups represented by the populations of the centers like ours, “said Bixler-Marquez.

Bixler-Marquez and his fellow researchers, including Cuban scholars who have come to UTEP, have studied issues including bilingual education, national security and the American embargo.

“Cuban researchers come to UTEP to study our border, community development and the role of Chicanas in the Southwest,” he said.

He and UTEP faculty members Maricela Oliva, Cesar Rossatto, Miguel Licona, L. Antonio González and Rosalía Zolórzano have presented at international conferences in Havana.

“We plan to take groups of faculty and professionals in the region to (Cuba) to examine specific dimensions of Cuban society, such as health, educational systems and environmental justice initiatives. These may provide lessons for our region,” he said.

The Center for the Study of the U.S. and the Center for the Study of the Americas in Havana have teamed up with UTEP to make panel presentations at the Latin American Studies Association Annual Conferences. The UTEP scholars are slated to make a panel presentation at the next meeting in March of 2006 in Puerto Rico.

Due to the State Department’s restrictions, it’s difficult for U.S. students to get permission to travel to Cuba.

Bixler-Marquez hopes one day to take UTEP students with him. However, he said this could only happen if the university creates a course in Cuban studies and has it approved by the U.S. government.

“That can mean a wide opportunity to work with people from other cultures, who have a lot to teach us,” said Cesar Rossatto, professor with the College of Education and Cuban researcher.

-Laura S. Ruelas

-photos courtesy of Dr. D. Bixler-Marquez