Engagement

My research regularly takes me beyond academic publishing into conversations with policymakers, practitioners, civil society organizations, and wider public audiences. I see this engagement as an important extension of my scholarship, particularly when research can contribute to ongoing debates about democracy, political inclusion, and governance in Latin America.

Policy Engagement

Latin America Advisor, Inter-American Dialogue (2024–present) — Recurring invited expert contributor providing commentary on Bolivian politics, democracy, and elections.

U.S. Department of State (2024) — Invited consultant on “Populism in Latin America.”

Selected Invited Talks

“Autocratization in Latin America.” Centre d’Étude de la Vie Politique, Université Libre de Bruxelles. May 18, 2022.

“Protest in the Midst of a Pandemic.” Protest and Repression in Latin America series, David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University. November 2, 2021.

“Maintaining Civic Space in Backsliding Regimes.” Learning Forum, Center for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance, United States Agency for International Development (USAID). March 2021.

“Democracy and Human Rights in South America.” Latin American Studies Center, University of Colorado Boulder. December 2020.

Public Scholarship and Policy Publications

“Why Bolivia Voted for Change—And Continuity.” (2025) — Journal of Democracy. With Callan Hummel.

Fortalecimiento de la confianza y la inclusión socioeconómica. (2022) — Universidad Externado de Colombia. With H. Martínez Rojas, P. Gutiérrez Yepes, D. Ortiz Escobar, H. Dorussen, and collaborators.

“The Real Story Behind Bolivia’s Protests.” (2019) — The Monkey Cage, The Washington Post. With Carew Boulding, Ray Foxworth, Callan Hummel, and Jami Nelson-Nuñez.

“Maintaining Civic Space in Backsliding Regimes.” (2017) — Research and Innovation Grants Working Papers Series. Washington, DC: USAID and International Institute of Education. With Andy Baker, Carew Boulding, Shawnna Mullenax, Galen Murton, Meagan Todd, and Drew Zackary.

Public Commentary

“Bolivia Protesters Bring Country to Standstill over Election Delays.” — The Guardian. August 9, 2020.

“Bolivia in Danger of Squandering Its Head Start over Coronavirus.” — The Guardian. July 3, 2020.

“Drafting a New Chilean Constitution: Discontent at the Gates of the Promised Land.” — Culturs. December 22, 2020.