What does identifying (or not identifying) with the BGLTQ community mean to you?

Identifying with the BGLTQ was very important for me. As an international grad student who was inside the closet during my College in Colombia, having the opportunity to be an openly gay Grad student has been liberating. This has not only allowed me to explore feel like a belong to a community and that I am not alone, but also has shaped the construction of my identity and has made me more comfortable with who I am as a person and as a professional.

How, if at all, has your identity shaped your academic and/or professional journey?

I cannot detach my identity as gay from my professional development. I have gone through multiple professional crises given that my first area of work was public policy in a country where gay policymakers are persecuted and villainized. I have questioned multiple times whether I could be out and also do the work that I want to do. Despite the many challenges and inner struggles, I am now comfortable and actually excited about the idea of being a pioneer in terms of LBGTQ claiming spaces in policymaking in my country.

What advice would you give to yourself when you were an undergraduate?

Oh gosh. Let yourself be who you truly are. Love yourself and let yourself love whoever you want to love. Oh, and come out to your family as soon as possible, regardless of the bad consequences. The later, the harder it is, and i ´s there is never going to be good timing for this.

What are your areas of expertise?

Public policy, education policy, macroeconomic policy, sociology of education.