About me

I am a Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Politics at Liverpool John Moores University. Previously, I was a Postdoctoral Researcher Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, PeaceRep. I have been an Honorary Research Fellow at the Institute of the Americas, University College London, where I served as Lecturer and  Director of the Master's Program in Latin American Studies. Additionally, and part of the Conflict & Change Cluster within the UCL Department of Political Science. 

My research interests are at the crossroads of International Relations, Political Behaviour, and Political Science. My focus centres on the impact of international actors upon the intricate local dynamics of collective action strategies initiated by civil society agents to foster peace, resilience, and reconciliation amidst armed conflicts, focusing on gender and ethnic issues. My primary sphere of interest encompasses Latin America, Colombia, and the Global South, which are of special significance to my work.

In addition to these core concerns, my academic curiosity extends to interlinked subjects. This encompasses exploring transitional justice, multiculturalism, ethnicity, equality, diversity, and the inclusion of diverse populations and an inquiry into research methodologies that underpin our comprehension of intertwined global and local phenomena.

I earned my PhD in Government from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom under the supervision of Professor Kristian Skrede Gleditsch and Dr Brian Phillips. I have a Master of Research in Latin American Studies and a Bachelor of Honours in Political Science and International Relations from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia.

I've also undertaken roles as a researcher and policy analyst for international organisations, including the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Global Survivors Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Fund. The projects I have been involved in have received funding from diverse sources, such as the European Union, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the University of Edinburgh Impact Grant,  and UCL Grant Challenges. My research has been discussed through media platforms such as France 24, The Dialogue, The Canning House, The Independent Diplomat and the Inter-ethnic Committee for implementing the Peace Agreement in Colombia.

I am a proud first-generation, mixed-race female scholar from the Global South with a working-class family background. 

Before starting my PhD, I was an Associate Professor and consultant in Colombia, focusing on collective action for diversity, inclusion, peace-building, and community resilience.

Outside work, I enjoy various sports and dances, including weight lifting, HIIT, salsa, contemporary dance, and Zumba.