Harvard to discontinue Latin America journal ReVista after 28 years amid budget crunch

Harvard University’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) has decided to shut down ReVista: The Harvard Review of Latin America, drawing the curtain on a publication that has run for close to 28 years. The move comes as the center navigates a deepening financial crunch and restructures its priorities. As first reported by The Harvard Crimson, the decision has also resulted in staff layoffs, including that of long-time editor-in-chief June C. Erlick. The final issue of the magazine has already been released, while a scheduled upcoming edition has been scrapped, marking a significant shift in the center’s academic outreach strategy.

Editorial team affected as publication winds down

In a communication sent to subscribers in March, Erlick confirmed that the magazine would cease operations due to financial limitations. Alongside the closure, her position at the center has also been terminated.

Faculty director Steven Levitsky confirmed that the decision to phase out ReVista had been taken earlier and was part of a broader restructuring effort. The layoffs also extend to additional staff roles linked to the publication.

Funding constraints push shift in priorities

Levitsky said the decision reflects a need to channel limited resources into core academic functions. These include research funding, student programmes in Latin America, visiting scholar initiatives, and public-facing academic discussions.

He noted that the center is also looking to expand its academic offerings in Mexican and Latino studies, citing growing student demand. Maintaining financial stability, he added, was essential to sustaining these priorities.

From print legacy to digital closure

ReVista began as a modest newsletter in the late 1990s and gradually evolved into a prominent publication examining social, political, and cultural issues across Latin America. Under Erlick’s leadership, it built a strong academic and journalistic identity.

The magazine had already transitioned to an online-only format in 2019 following earlier budget constraints. Its complete closure now signals the end of a long-standing intellectual platform within Harvard’s Latin American studies ecosystem.

Wider cuts and financial strain at Harvard

The closure is part of a series of cost-cutting measures at DRCLAS, which is reportedly facing a deficit nearing $1 million. Previous steps have included shutting regional offices in Chile and Mexico and reducing staff strength.

Levitsky attributed the financial strain to lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, loss of funding streams, and rising institutional costs. Broader financial pressures across Harvard have compounded the situation, with university leadership, including CFO Ritu Kalra, acknowledging the challenging fiscal environment.

(With inputs from The Harvard Crimson)

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