Jose David Rodriguez Mesa
MPS Class of 2025, Global Development
- Pronouns: He/him
- Grand challenge: Sustainable development and equitable access to essential services in urban and rural communities across Latin America
- Where he considers home: Bogotá D.C, Colombia
- Connect: jr2436 [at] cornell.edu (Email)
Jose David Rodriguez Mesa holds a degree in Political Science from the Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), with a focus on Public Policy, International Relations, and Development. He has extensive experience working with various entities within the Bogotá District, where he has been involved in projects that contribute to the city's development and governance. His work includes advisory and support roles in the intermunicipal transport sector in Colombia, where he has successfully enhanced educational initiatives and represented stakeholders in strategic dialogues with the national government.
Jose David has also been involved in youth participation projects, collaborating with young people from the Andean community to promote civic engagement and leadership. These initiatives have empowered youth to actively contribute to discussions on development and policy within their communities.
In his fieldwork, Jose David has engaged with urban communities to support sustainable development efforts and spearheaded initiatives to improve civic coexistence, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing social conditions across diverse contexts.
Passionate about driving meaningful change, Jose David is pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Global Development at Cornell University. He seeks to leverage his expertise in public policy, international relations, and development so that he may address complex social challenges and foster sustainable solutions both in Colombia and internationally.