McCourt School’s Latin American initiatives soar, elevating global engagement
Researchers, students and alumni are collaborating with key leaders and organizations to cultivate a deeper understanding of the region’s policy challenges.
The McCourt School of Public Policy is deepening its engagement with Latin America, leveraging a century of collaboration between Georgetown University and the region to drive positive change and address shared opportunities. Through collaboration with domestic and international leaders, the McCourt community aims to uncover insights, learn from regional experiences and empower Latin American policymakers to drive meaningful change.
Agustin Porres (MPP’16)
The Latin America and the Caribbean Policy Association (LAPA), a dynamic student-led organization founded in 2016 by Agustin Porres (MPP’16), is a cornerstone of this engagement. LAPA serves as a dynamic hub for scholarly exchange, policy analysis and collaborative projects that bridge academia and policymaking in the region while also fostering community and encouraging student involvement.
McCourt Policy in Practice (MPiP) in Panama
“LAPA’s inception marked a crucial turning point in fostering this network and empowering individuals to drive positive change in the region,” said Porres.
Another student-led organization, McCourt Policy in Practice (MPiP), takes a hands-on approach to experiential learning. MPiP partners with nonprofit organizations throughout Latin America, leveraging rigorous, evidence-based policy tools to maximize their capacity to deliver and evaluate social impact.
“Navigating Latin America’s complex political landscape is at the core of our work,” said Santiago Rodriguez Bernal (MIDP’24), MPiP program coordinator. “Understanding local context is crucial for effective public policy. Our unique perspective comes from working directly at the grassroots level.”
LAPA president Facundo Robles (MPP’24) emphasized the potential of these partnerships to drive research and advocacy. He believes the collaboration can reshape the American narrative on the region.
“We strive to understand the American perspective on Latin America,” said Robles. “While Latin Americans grapple with issues like poverty and inflation, U.S. policy often prioritizes drug trafficking, immigration and Chinese influence.”
The McCourt School is also an academic partner of the Varkey Foundation’s Comunidad Araucaria.
Through the Araucaria Partnership, Porres organized a three-day training program in the District of Columbia for 23 education leaders from across Latin America in January 2023. The initiative aimed to enhance their leadership skills as ministers or secretaries of education, to foster significant improvements in the region’s educational landscape.
“It was remarkable to see these experienced leaders embrace the role of students and actively engage in the learning process,” said Porres, the Varkey Foundation’s Regional Director of Latin America.
Alejandro Werner, director of the Georgetown Americas Institute
Additionally, the Georgetown Americas Institute (GAI) promotes research on diverse issues affecting Latin America. The McCourt School expanded its course offerings on the region to meet growing student interest.
“The objective is to continue strengthening Georgetown’s relevance as a leader in Latin American and Caribbean studies,” said Alejandro Werner, GAI’s director. “That means fostering more research on the issues that matter to the region, bringing in experts from Latin America to teach and collaborate and making sure students and faculty have chances to learn firsthand through travel.”
McCourt’s multifaceted approach cultivates a deeper understanding of Latin America, equipping future leaders to drive positive regional change. A vibrant future for Latin American studies and engagement is emerging as these initiatives gain momentum.
“We want to bring Latin America to the discussion so that it is on the agenda — not only for Latin American students but for all students in the school,” said Porres.