I come from Bogotá, Colombia and I have been living in Germany for the last 18 years.

I studied in Political Science, Modern History and Spanish Philology. After my PhD in Political Science at the University of Bonn I worked at Unicepta Gesellschaft für Medienanalyse mbH in Cologne at the Analytics & Insights department as well as a scientific research assistant at the University “Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg” at the department of Social Policy and Social Security Studies. Furthermore, I was a managing director of the Association Sozialversicherungswissenschaft e.V.

My own migration history, my intercultural experiences and my many years of existence as a „non-citizen“ in Germany and my deep commitment to democracy has guided me along the last decade to create discussion spaces and to offer seminars and workshops for the civil society and to research about the following topics in depth: Democracy, democracy protection, defensive or contentious democracy, dealing with social plurality, dealing with right-wing extremism and right-wing populism, social participation, active political participation, interculturality as well as migration and integration policy.

I am a certified Intercultural Trainer (Registered with the German Association for the Quality of Intercultural Training, Deutsche Gesellschaft für interkulturelle Trainingsqualität e. V.)

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Awards: Doctoral Scholarship from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)

Graduate studies in Political Science, Modern History and Spanish Philology

2009 – 2012     Assistant lecturer at the University of Bonn

Since 01/2014     Guest speaker and host of panel discussions

Professional emphases

Right-wing extremism and populism, political and social participation, migration, right-wing extremism and populism, social integration, political and social participation

Publications

Dealing with right-wing extremist parties in representative bodies. A comparative analysis using the example of the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) and the British National Party (BNP). Series: Political Parties in Europe. Volume 8, LiT Verlag, Berlin 2017.
Old stumbling blocks in the political participation of the newcomers. ”In: Bitzegeio, Ursula / Decker, Frank / Fischer, Sandra / Stolzenberg, Thorsten (eds.): Flucht, Transit, Asyl. Interdisciplinary perspectives on a European promise. Publishing house J.H.W. Dietz, Bonn 2018.

Journalistic articles on the website of the German radio station “Deutsche Welle” and in the Argentine newspaper “El Clarín” in the Deutsche Welle editorial office for DW-WORLD/Spanish.

Lectures (selection)

17.04.2021„Integration in the specialized discourse: The integration paradox!“ As part of the STUBE Nord seminar for STUBE multipliers and international students. Diakonisches Werk Hamburg.
27.06.2019“The defensive democracy. Dealing with enemies of the constitution. „As part of the lecture series: Society in Transition. University „Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg“.
30.11.2018Panel discussion guest at the discussion round: “People’s Party vs. Division Party”. Bonner Politik-Forum.
05.05.2018„How do you deal with right-wing extremist parties?“ International Women’s Center (IFZ) in Bonn.
20.02.2018„Dealing with right-wing extremist parties in people’s assemblies.“ Bonner Politik-Forum.
07.09.2017“Migration and Refugees – Can you stop migration? What can mean: remove the background of the escape? „Academy for Employee Training, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Bonn.
02.08.2017„Flight and migration in and out of Africa as part of the seminar: Africa south of the Sahara: Germany’s responsibility in the face of state failure and attempts at democratization. „Vollmar Academy in Kochel am See.
15.05.2017Panel discussion guest at CARTA-SALON # 2: „Europe is dead, long live Europe?“ Theater im Bauturm in Cologne.
23.09.2016„Old stumbling blocks in the political participation of the newcomers“Symposium “Flight, Transit and Asylum. Interdisciplinary perspectives on a European promise.” At the Institute for Political Science and Sociology of the University of Bonn „Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn“
21.02.2014“Integration and interculture. How do we deal with that?“ International Women’s Center Bonn (IFZ)
08.02.2013„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

University Seminars

Dealing with Social Plurality in a Liberal Democracy – Basics and Skills

Political Theory – From Antiquity to the Present

Intercultural competence in a diverse society

Transcultural competence as a key qualification in a society of diversity

Engagement

Since 2021Deputy expert citizen in the committee for citizen participation and local agenda in the city council in Bonn
Since 2021Deputy member of the Integration Council in Bonn
Since 2017Deputy Chairwoman of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) Bonn
2017Co-initiator and co-organizer of the non-partisan citizens‘ movement „Pulse of Europe“ in Bonn
2016Co-initiator of the non-partisan initiative „Restart Europe Now!“
2015-2020Expert resident in the committee for citizen participation and local agenda in the city council in Bonn
2013-2016Member of the Federal Executive Committee of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
2013-2016Chairwoman of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in Bonn
2013Co-founder of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in Bonn
2013-2015Deputy Chairwoman of the Migration and Diversity Working Group of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in North Rhine Westphalia  
2012-2016Member of the subdistrict executive committee of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in Bonn
2006-2008Cultural mentor of the student residence Römerlager in Bonn