Study Trip Offers an Immersive View of Colombia’s Most Pressing Challenges
During the 2025 spring break, 16 Johns Hopkins SAIS students participated in a study trip to Colombia as part of their Latin America Research capstone, visiting the cities of Bogotá and Medellín from March 15–23. The trip offered an immersive view of Colombia’s most pressing challenges—including security, migration, foreign policy, the 2026 presidential elections, and the evolving U.S.–Colombia relationship.
Led by Jim Marckwardt, faculty co-lead for the Americas Focus Area at SAIS, the students conducted more than 20 meetings with Colombian officials, diplomats, academics, and representatives from both the public and private sectors. The capstone cohort engaged directly with institutions such as the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UN Verification Mission, and the International Organization for Migration.
The delegation was welcomed by SAIS alumni in Bogotá, including David Varela from Universidad Javeriana, and Sergio Guzmán, director of Colombia Risk Analysis. Both hosted conversations on Colombia’s domestic and geopolitical landscape, with a particular focus on the upcoming 2026 elections. “Our alumni network continues to be an invaluable asset in making this experience meaningful for our students,” said Marckwardt. “Their hospitality and engagement helped open doors and enriched the academic depth of this trip.”
In Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city, the students met with senior representatives from Empresas Públicas de Medellín, a state-owned utility company, as well as local innovation leaders and urban development officials. These conversations provided insight into how Colombia’s cities are tackling sustainability, infrastructure modernization, and regional inequality.
This year’s trip placed a strong emphasis on student initiative. Participants helped lead meetings and contributed to logistical coordination throughout the week. “Participating in this trip and learning from my peers has been the highlight of my SAIS experience,” said Camilla Manning (MAIR ’25). “It deepened my interest in human rights and affirmed my commitment to pursuing this work after graduation.”
Daniel Sixto (MAIR ’25) reflected on the range of perspectives offered throughout the visit: “The study trip exposed us to topics far beyond our own research areas and brought us face-to-face with the complexities shaping Colombian society. It was an incredible opportunity to engage with experts and absorb insights we wouldn’t have encountered otherwise.”
Marckwardt noted: “This year’s research seminar was a powerful reminder of the value of experiential learning. It brought our students face-to-face with the people and policies shaping Latin America today and created lasting bonds that extended far beyond the classroom.”
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