SOCIAL CHALLENGES FACING CUBA

About the Book

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, we have witnessed a rapid transition from communist regimes to more democratic forms of governments around the world. In most of these situations, the changes and pre-transition analyses have focused on the areas of political and economic transformation while paying very little attention to the impact such dramatic changes have on the people. This book attempts to analyze some of these human factors as it applies to Cuba and what impact it will have for the future.

About the Author

Dr. Andy S. Gomez is a Senior Advisor with the law and public policy firm of Poblete Tamargo LLP. Based in Miami, Florida, Dr. Gomez … Prior to joining the firm he served as Special Assistant for International Affairs at the University of Miami. In this role, Dr. Gomez served as the university’s liaison between the international business and the diplomatic community. He served as Assistant Provost for Planning, Institutional Research and Assessment from 2005-2012. In this capacity Dr. Gomez was responsible for the continuous academic improvement of all programs university wide. He served on the Southern association of Colleges and Universities (SACS) Board of Trustees from 2008-2012. At UM, Gomez also served as Dean of the School of International Studies 2001-2004. Dr. Gomez’ is considered an academic scholar in Cuban studies. He currently serves as Senior Fellow at UM’s Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies. His research agenda focuses on the ideological and psychological reconstruction of human values and attitudes in a post-Castro Cuba. He also teaches several courses at UM, including Cuba after Castro and The Cuban Revolution. Gomez lectures extensively on Cuba’s transition at many national and international conferences, government seminars, and serves as a consultant on Cuba issues to ABC News. He served as a Nonresident Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy program (Cuba) at the Brookings Institution from 2008-2010. Before joining the University of Miami, Gomez served as the Undersecretary of Education and Chief of Staff at the Executive Office of Education in Boston, MA (1991 – 1994). Prior to his time in Massachusetts, he served in several capacities at the University of Houston, including Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Special Assistant to the President, Executive Director of University Relations, Special Assistant to the Chancellor, and Assistant Professor of Public Administration (1984 – 1991). Dr. Gomez received his Doctor of Education in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University (1993), a Master’s in Education also from Harvard University (1991), a Master’s in Public Administration from Florida International University (1978), and his B.A. in International Studies at the University of Miami (1976). In addition he has certificates in management and leadership from Harvard’s School of Education and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. Dr. Gomez also served as a delegate to the last Organization of American States (OAS) conference in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Student Assistance Corp. The City of Coral Gables Budget and Audit Advisory Committee, UM’s representative to the Board of Directors of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors of the Coral Gables Foundation Dr. Gomez was recently selected as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in South Florida.