Originally from Colombia, Vero is a first-generation college student passionate about global development, migration, gender, and climate change. She holds a B.A. in Government and International Relations from Smith College MA, USA, and is currently a second-year student in the MA in Global Human Development at Georgetown University. While pursuing her MA, Vero raised seed funding and is also co- developing CarematchMX, a startup aimed at connecting Mexican caregivers with US families in need of senior care.

Her professional experience includes prestigious institutions such as the Library of Congress, the Wilson Center, the Organization of American States (OAS), the International Organization for Migration (IOM-UN), where she worked as a consultant on diaspora engagement in HQ Geneva, and MSI, a Tetra Tech company, where she worked in Monitoring and Evaluation for USAID funded projects. During her summer in 2024, she was based in Dakar, Senegal, working in the Migration, Environment and Climate Change Unit of the IOM Country Office. She worked on project proposals and supported the implementation of reintegration and climate resilience projects for migrants. In the fall of 2024, she will be interning at the Department of State in the Bureau for Oceanic and Scientific affairs with directly coordinate climate policy globally.

On campus, she actively contributes to the graduate student experience as the Vice President of Advocacy for Georgetown's Graduate Government Association (GradGov) a position she was nominated to and selected for after being an active Senator in the Energy, Environment and Sustainability committee during her first year. She speaks English, Spanish and French.

She enjoys photography, traveling, and hiking. In 2022, she walked the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of James, in northern Spain, a pilgrimage route dating back to the 9th century. She considers this to be the most transformational experience she has ever had and plans to do it again upon graduation in 2025. Vero is married and visits her family in Colombia as often as she can.

Why GHD?

Vero chose GHD because it offered a wide range of practical and interdisciplinary opportunities. With the combination of domestic and overseas internships and classes with hands-on problem-solving opportunities, she is confident she will be well-prepared for the world of international development. Additionally, GHD's professors bring a great deal of experience to the classroom — but more importantly, they care about their students and look out for their well-being.

Summer Internship

Beyond the Classroom: GHD Skills in Action at the IOM Senegal
I spent my summer internship in Dakar, Senegal, working for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Country Office. I joined the Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (MECC) Unit and, more specifically, contributed to the reintegration unit, which directly oversees and works with the reintegration of returnee migrants. Applying skills from my GHD classes Strategy, Design, and Implementation and my Gender, Peace, and Security certificate class, Gender Toolbox, I spearheaded a project proposal which sought to secure $250,000 to empower local women in the southern border of Senegal to prevent Violent Extremism. Additionally, I assisted in the day-to-day implementation of reintegration and climate resilience projects for migrants and represented the office at events and conferences in Dakar which broadened my understanding of migration context and patterns in the West African Region.

The most valuable experiences for me came from field missions. One of them was part of the incubation program for returnee migrants becoming entrepreneurs in the Kolda region. We accompanied beneficiaries as they learned sustainable agricultural practices. Similarly in a field mission to Saint Louis, we met with entrepreneurial beneficiaries of the Migration for Development Program (MDP) and visited their enterprises on waste management, mangrove restoration, fish farming, and rice production. These out of the office exposures allowed me to witness firsthand IOM's positive influence in Senegal.

My time in Senegal was certainly fulfilling, as I was able to work in the field of migration and development and put into practice the skills and knowledge gained during my first year in GHD. This internship solidified my passion for migration and development, honed my French language skills, and provided invaluable cultural immersion.