Working on Latin American Integration

Before starting my Master of Latin American Studies program (with a concentration in Political Economy) at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service on a Fulbright grant, I worked as a researcher and professor in the Department of International Business and Integration at the Universidad Católica del Uruguay. My intention with my Fulbright grant is to contribute to my country through academia, and as a policy maker. My research specifically focuses on Latin American Economic and Trade Integration and convergence opportunities between the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the Pacific Alliance. My country, Uruguay, is a member of Mercosur, and I hope that my research will potentially be useful for Uruguayan policy makers in developing a strong trade and economic partnership with the Pacific Alliance.

Beyond my graduate studies, I am currently the president of the Political Economy Group at Georgetown. I have also participated with a group from a local parish called Contemplative Leadership in Action, a two-year faith formation and leadership development program rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, in which I’ve shared my culture and several of my community service experiences that I participated back in Latin America. Recently, I was selected as an Institute for the Study of Diplomacy Graduate Fellow for 2015-16, for my research project on ”Trade, Economic and Political Diplomacy in Latin America: Between Protectionism and Openness.”

Every year during the spring, five graduate students are selected by the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (ISD) to become fellows. Three fellowships are provided by Michael Huffington: one in honor of Ambassador David D. Newsom, inaugural ISD Director, and one in recognition of Allen W. Dulles; Allen M. Dulles sponsors a graduate student whose project is related to the work of the intelligence community. This year, I have the honor of being included as one of five graduate students from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. Professor Barbara Kotschwar, an expert in trade and economic relations, will be the fellowship adviser for this research project.

After my fellowship, I will soon be traveling to Santiago, Chile, to participate in a project involving brainstorming around Latin American regional integration initiatives. Next year, I hope to apply for a doctorate degree in international relations to help me achieve my eventual professional dream of becoming the Director of Uruguayan Foreign Policy within my country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I hope to join my strong interest in Latin American development and economics to help Uruguay.