I am Johanna Amaya-Panche. Welcome to my website

About me

I am a Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Politics at Liverpool John Moores University. Previously, I served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh with the PeaceRep consortium. I have served as a Lecturer and the Director of the Master's Program in Latin American Studies at University College London. I earned my PhD in Government from the University of Essex, where I worked as an Assistant Lecturer. Additionally, I hold a Master of Research in Latin American Studies and a Bachelor’s degree with Honours in Political Science and International Relations, both from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, where I also taught as a Lecturer.

My research interests lie at the intersection of International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies. Particularly, I use mixed-methods research to examine how international organisations influence governments and local civil society dynamics to foster peace, inclusivity and reconciliation after armed conflicts, with particular attention to ethnicity and gender. My primary areas of interest are Latin America, the Global South, Europe and post-conflict countries.

This research has received funding from the British Academy, the European Union, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)/ PeaceRep, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and UCL, among others. My work has been featured in media outlets such as BBC News, The Conversation, France 24, the Inter-American Dialogue, Canning House, the Independent Diplomat, and the Inter-Ethnic Committee for implementing the Peace Agreement in Colombia.

I am also interested in transitional justice, multiculturalism, equality, and diversity, employing mixed methods research to understand the interactions between global and local phenomena. My research is closely connected to my policy work with 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).

Before starting my PhD, I was an Associate Professor and consultant for governmental and international organisations in Colombia, focusing on community participation and inclusion in peace-building and reconciliation.

 I am a proud first-generation mixed-race scholar from a working-class background, passionate about supporting students to overcome barriers and thrive in multicultural environments.

Outside of work, I enjoy a variety of sports and dance styles, including weightlifting, HIIT, salsa, contemporary dance, and Zumba.