Sebastián A. Arcos, M.A., is interim director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.
Sebastián A. Arcos holds a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in international relations, both from Florida International University. Before joining CRI as associate director, he was associate director of development of the School of International and Public Affairs and deputy and acting chief of staff in the Office of the President of FIU.
Born in Havana, Cuba, he joined in 1987 the Cuban Committee for Human Rights (CCPDH), the first independent Cuban human rights organization, and was part of the CCPDH team that met with the Special Group from the U.N. Commission on Human Rights that visited the island in 1988. For three consecutive years (1995, 1996, 1997), Mr. Arcos was part of the Freedom House delegation to the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland. He advised the U.S. Department of State on issues concerning human rights in Cuba between 1998 and 2000.
Mr. Arcos is a frequent commentator about Cuban politics and society on radio, television, and print media. He has also written opinion pieces about Cuba.