I was born and raised in Colombia. The pronounced social and political exclusion of minorities in my home country ignited my profound fascination with the question of how democracies can be democratized, protected, and defended. Democracy is still esteemed as the political system in which human rights are best respected.
My experiences as an immigrant, as well as my long-standing volunteer work in the areas of integration, anti-discrimination, and intercultural openness, have further motivated me to continue engaging with these issues.
I have, among other things, served as a co-founder and longtime chair of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the SPD (Social Democratic Party) in Bonn, as well as held positions on the federal and state levels within this working group. In these roles, I have provided advice on migration, participation, and inclusion, actively advocating for social and political justice. Human rights violations at the EU’s external borders and the rise of anti-democratic parties in Europe have led me to co-found the civic movement „Pulse of Europe“ in Bonn.
In recent years, I have been active in various professional roles, including as a lecturer at the University of Bonn, as a research assistant at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, as the managing director of the Forum for Social Security Sciences e.V., and as Policy Advisor at the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation in Berlin.
Education:
Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn). Dissertation Title: „Dealing with Right-Wing Extremist Parties in Parliaments: A Comparative Analysis using the Example of the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) and the British National Party (BNP).“ Focus areas: Right-wing extremism and populism, defensive democracy, anti-discrimination, migration, and integration. Award: Doctoral Scholarship from the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation.
Master’s Degree in Political Science, Modern History, and Spanish Philology, University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn). Master’s Thesis Title: „The Development of the defensive Democracy in the Federal Republic of Germany using the Example of Party Bans.“ Focus areas: Right-wing extremism and populism, defensive democracy, anti-discrimination, migration, and integration.
Additional Qualifications:
Certificate Program: Specialist in Diversity Management, Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Online Certificate Course: Citizenship and the Rule of Law, University of London
Online Certificate Course: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Access Essentials, University of North Texas
Training to become certified intercultural trainer, IKUD Seminars, Göttingen
Training to become certified trainer for anti-discrimination, Municipal Integration Center, Rhein-Sieg District
Publications
Tobo Tobo, Diana Carolina: Revolución en el mundo de la literatura. In: Deutsche Welle, 21.04.2007.
Tobo Tobo, Diana Carolina: Ulrike y Volkan : rostros de la pobreza en el corazón de Europa. In: Deutsche Welle, 19.11.2006.
Tobo Tobo, Diana Carolina: Sabiduría de la experiencia. In: Deutsche Welle, 29.10.2006.
Tobo Tobo, Diana Carolina: Megaproyecto en Stuttgart. In: Deutsche Welle, 28.10.2006.
Tobo Tobo, Diana Carolina: Marina germana asume dirección de vigilancia frente al Líbano. In: Deutsche Welle, 16.10.2006.
Tobo Tobo, Diana Carolina: Alemania, uno de los mayores proveedores de armas de Latinoamérica. In: Deutsche Welle, 11.10.2006. Additional journalistic articles on the Deutsche Welle website
Lectures / Courses / Projects / Moderations
| winter semester 2023/2024 | Lecturer at Leuphana University and at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences. |
| 20.06.2023 | Workshop: A critical reflection on the role as political educators, Evangelische Trägergruppe für gesellschaftspolitische Jugendbildung, Güstrow |
| 2022 | Member of the expert panel of the „Power for Democracy“ award. |
| 2021 | Member of the expert panel of the „Power for Democracy“ award |
| 17.04.2021 | Guest Lecture: „Integration in the professional discourse: The Integration Paradox!“ (Diakonisches Werk Hamburg) |
| winter semester 2020/2021 | Course: Managing Societal Diversity in a Liberal Democracy – Fundamentals and Skills (Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg) |
| summer semester 2020 | Seminar: Political Theory – From Antiquity to the Present (Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg) |
| winter semester 2019/2020 | Course: Transcultural Competence as Key Qualification in a Diverse Society, together with Yvonne Adam M.A. (Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg) |
| summer semester 2019 | Course: Foundations of intercultural competence in a diverse society (Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg) |
| 27.06.2019 | Guest Lecture: „The defensive democracy. Dealing with enemies of the constitution. As part of the lecture series: Society in Transition“ (Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg) |
| 30.11.2018 | Participation as a panelist in the discussion round „People’s party vs. interest group party“ (Bonner Politik-Forum) |
| 05.05.2018 | Guest Lecture: „How to deal with far-right extremist parties?“ (Internationales Frauenzentrum Bonn) |
| 20.02.2018 | Guest Lecture: „The handling of right-wing extremist parties in parliaments“ (Bonner Politik-Forum) |
| 07.09.2017 | Seminar: „Migration and Refugees – Can Migration be Stopped? What Does it Mean to Eliminate Reasons for Flight?“ (Akademie für Arbeitnehmer-Weiterbildung, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Bonn) |
| 02.08.2017 | Seminar: „Flight and Migration to and from Africa, as part of the seminar ‚Sub-Saharan Africa: Germany’s responsibility in the face of state failure and attempts at democratization“ (Vollmar Akademie in Kochel am See) |
| 15.05.2017 | Participation as a panel discussion guest at the Carta-Salon #2: Europe is dead, long live Europe? (Theater im Bauturm in Köln) |
| 23.09.2016 | Guest Lecture: „Old stumbling blocks in the political participation of newcomers“ Conference: Flight, Transit, and Asylum. Interdisciplinary perspectives on a European promise. (Institut für Politische Wissenschaft und Soziologie der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn) |
| 2016 | Introductory seminars for scholarship holders of the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation |
| 16.06.2016 | Moderation of the Panel Discussion: „Europe Calling. Democratic Europe – Hindered by the right?“ Im Künstlerverein Malkasten e.V. Düsseldorf (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung) |
| 10.03.2016 | Moderation of the Panel Discussion: „The world is on the move. How is Europe and Germany dealing with the refugee question?“ Volkshochschule Düsseldorf (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung) |
| 14.05.2014 | Moderation of the Panel Discussion „I was a stranger and you welcomed me?!“ (Evangelische Hochschulgemeinde Bonn) |
| 06.05.2014 | Moderation of the open discussion round on integration topics of the SPD Bonn (House of Diversity Bonn/Migrapolis) |
| 21.02.2014 | Guest Lecture: „Integration and interculture. How do we deal with that?“ International Women’s Center Bonn (IFZ) |
| 30.01.2014 | Moderation of the Panel Discussion „Flight. A Dance Theater Piece.“ LVR-Landesmuseum Bonn. (International Women’s Center Bonn) |
| 08.02.2013 | Guest Lecture: „How do modern liberal democracies deal with right-wing extremist parties?“ Institute for German and International Party Law and Party Research (Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf) |
Voluntary Engagement
| 2017-2021 | Deputy Chairwoman of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) Bonn |
| 2017 | Co-initiator and co-organizer of the non-partisan citizens‘ movement „Pulse of Europe“ in Bonn |
| 2016 | Co-initiator of the non-partisan initiative „Restart Europe Now!“ |
| 2015-2020 | Expert resident in the committee for citizen participation and local agenda in the city council in Bonn |
| 2013-2016 | Member of the Federal Executive Committee of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) |
| 2013-2016 | Chairwoman of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in Bonn |
| 2013 | Co-founder of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in Bonn |
| 2013-2015 | Deputy Chairwoman of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in North Rhine Westphalia |
| 2012-2016 | Member of the subdistrict executive committee of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in Bonn |
| 2006-2008 | Cultural mentor of the student residence Römerlager in Bonn |