Hometown: Quito, Ecuador

Current City: Arlington, VA

Why did you choose McCourt? The MIDP program at McCourt stood out to me for many reasons. First, I appreciated the strong emphasis on rigorous research methods and the highly structured curriculum program; I was particularly interested in further developing my analytical skills. Further, I was interested in taking advantage of the multiple professional opportunities Washington DC has to offer. Finally, the small cohort size was highly attractive to me. McCourt definitely checks all the boxes!

What professional/ work experience did you have prior to coming to McCourt? Prior to coming to McCourt, I worked as a consultant within the Gender and Diversity Division of the Inter-American Development Bank. In that capacity, I worked on research projects surrounding the inclusion of people with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean. My focus areas were mainly in social protection, inclusive education and accessible response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I also worked on research concerning afro-descendants, indigenous peoples and LGBTQ+ communities. For instance, I collaborated on the development of indicators on disability, race and ethnicity for the IDB Social Sector Data Visualization Platform.

What has been the best part of your experience so far? Being part of such a tight-knit supportive community! In class and beyond, everyone is looking out for each other. I have learned an incredible amount just from my peers.

What internships have you had so far during your time at McCourt? International Center for Evidence on Disability, London School of Hygiene of Tropical Medicine - PENDA Research Intern: I worked on a RCT of a program that provides training and financing to small-business owners with disabilities in Kenya.

Student organization involvement while at McCourt:

• McCourt Policy in Practice (MPiP) - Project Manager
• Latin America and the Caribbean Policy Association (LAPA) - Treasurer

Undergraduate University, degree, and major: Barnard College, Columbia University, BA, Economics

Hobbies/ Interests: Hobbies: Dancing, DIY and home improvement, hiking

Reach out to me about: Talk to me about being a student with a disability and the reasonable accommodations process.