Diana Rodríguez-Gomez

When times get difficult, we are faced with two choices: to step back or to step up. This time, I’ve decided to step up and run as a candidate for the 2025–2028 Board of Directors.

My name is Diana Rodríguez Gómez, and I’m an Assistant Professor in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. My research examines how school communities in contexts of armed conflict navigate both the visible and everyday dimensions of armed violence.

Through fieldwork and the people I’ve had the privilege to learn from, I’ve come to understand that violence cannot be denied or postponed – it must be confronted, with care and courage. I believe these two forms of active commitment are essential to strengthening CIES as a space for academic freedom, knowledge production and meaningful engagement with the communities and people we care so deeply about.

I envision CIES as an energetic and vibrant space where we come together to connect and grow through diverse forms of exchange – whether in formal academic panels and presidential addresses, or in provocations, roundtables, workshops, and, of course, engagement with the communities hosting the conference. Unlike other educational spaces that are often shaped by domestically focused perspectives, CIES offers a unique setting where we don’t have to justify our concern for communities beyond national borders. Here, we can dare to ask difficult questions, to be curious, and—perhaps most importantly—to expect and demand more from those in positions of power.

I first attended CIES during my first year as a doctoral student. Eager to take it all in, I joined as many panels and training workshops as my schedule allowed. Since then, I have embraced the dual role of learner and mentor. Over the years, I have served as a reviewer, Social Media Officer for the Latin America SIG (2015–2016), Co-Chair-Elect (2017–2019), and later as a mentor for both the Education, Conflict, and Emergencies SIG (2020) and the New Scholars Workshop (2023–2025). I have co-organized panels and workshops, and participated in the first iteration of the Provocations series. Each time I’ve attended the conference, I’ve gained valuable insights—from others’ research, perspectives on the world, and reflections on my own work. Now, I feel ready to channel my energy into strengthening the Society and collaborating with others to expand its capacity to support undergraduate and graduate students from all backgrounds, as well as practitioners and scholars alike.