George and Ann RichardsCivil War Era Center

Ovando is a Ph.D. student specializing in Colonial Latin American History. His research examines the sociopolitical and cultural dynamics of Indigenous communities, particularly Nahua and Maya, during the conquest/invasion of Highland Guatemala. Grounded in his own Indigenous heritage and Guatemalan identity, and guided by close engagement with Indigenous-authored sources, his work seeks to contribute to a New Conquest History of Guatemala; one that centers Indigenous agency, resilience, and historical memory.