Columbus State University named Karen E. Stothert as the fall 2004 Elena Diaz-Verson Amos Eminent Scholar in Latin American Studies. Stothert, right, taught two courses, “Ancient Art and Religion of Latin America” and “Contemporary and Ancient Women of Latin America.” At the time, Stothert was a research associate for the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio and an Investigator for the Anthropology Museum of the Central Bank of Ecuador, Guayaquil. Her previous positions included founding director and designer of the Amantes de Sumpa Museum in Santa Elena, Guayas, Ecuador; Fellow of Pre-Columbian Studies at Dumbarton Oaks, Wash.; visiting associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at Yale University. Stothert has participated in numerous research positions and projects and has written more than 10 articles and books. Stothert studied at Yale University, where she received her master's in philosophy in anthropology and her doctorate in anthropology. Warren Church, CSU assistant professor of archaeology and anthropology, nominated Stothert and said she is a multi-dimensional woman who is not only a leading scholar, but is also on the cutting edge of cultural research in a number of areas. According to Church, she has been instrumental in helping build community museums in Latin America and has made great contributions to the Latin American culture. Church described Stothert as an electrifying speaker and a “bundle of energy.” “She is warm and personable, and students love her class because she engages them," he said. "She makes them think and prods them into discussing issues of first importance.”