Teaching & Mentoring

Mentoring

Academic Mentorship

I have taught at universities in the United States, Latin America, and the Middle East, working with more than 400 students, primarily at the undergraduate level. Each year, I formally advise around five students at Stanford, serving either as a major advisor or thesis advisor, and I regularly supervise master’s students. I have also served on a PhD dissertation committee. In addition, I contribute as a mentor in extracurricular programs such as the Stanford in Government Fellowship and the Haas Center Cardinal Quarter Program .

Research Mentorship

A central part of my mentoring takes place through research. I have supervised more than a dozen research assistants, many of whom come from the Global South. Several of these mentees have gone on to work at highly selective institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank, or to pursue graduate studies at leading universities, including Stanford, the Paris School of Economics, and the University of Chicago.

Most of my current research mentoring is conducted through the Economic and Political History Lab (EPH Lab).

Advising & Consulting

As part of my commitment to Latin America, I mentor high-potential early-career scholars and practitioners on an individual, pro bono basis. This mentoring typically focuses on academic writing and publication strategies, graduate school applications, and career paths that bridge academia, policy, and international organizations. I also work with mentees on the public dissemination of intellectual ideas—through op-eds, podcasts, public talks, and digital media—and on translating academic research into forms that can engage broader public, corporate, and policy audiences. If you believe this applies to you, feel free to reach out.

In addition, I advise organizations and senior leaders—including CEOs, founders, and executive teams—in Latin America and the Middle East. My advisory work centers on helping decision-makers interpret research, historical perspective, and public opinion in ways that inform strategy, communication, and long-term positioning. This often involves clarifying how complex ideas can be communicated to different stakeholders, navigating political and institutional contexts, and aligning organizational narratives with broader public debates and strategic goals.

For institutional advising and consulting inquiries, please contact me by email to request rates.

Teaching

Teaching at Stanford

POLISCI 244D/CLASSICS 187: Societal Collapse

Quarters: Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Fall 2025

Sustained economic growth is an anomaly in human history. Moreover, in the very long term, sustained economic decline is common. Following a historical and cross-cultural perspective, we will study the causes of economic decline, the social and political consequences of that decline, and the path that led to the collapse of some of the most prosperous societies in human history. Among the episodes we will cover are the Late Bronze Age collapse in the Eastern Mediterranean, the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and the Classic Maya collapse. We will compare these ancient episodes with recent cases of socioeconomic decline, including the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the downfall of Venezuela under Chavismo. We will use the past to reflect on the fundamentals of harmony and prosperity in our society and the challenges that they will face in the future.

POLISCI 244C/ECON 134: Wealth of Nations

Quarters: Winter 2021, Winter 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026

Why are there economic disparities across countries? Why did some countries grow steadily over the past 200 years while many others did not? What have been the consequences for the citizens of those countries? What has geography, culture, and institutions played in the development process? What are the moral dilemmas behind this development process? These are some of the questions we will discuss in this course. Following a historical and cross-cultural perspective, we will study the origins of economic development and the path that led to the configuration of the modern global economy.

POLISCI 243/INTNLREL 153: Political Economy of Latin America

Quarters: Spring 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2026

This course offers a comprehensive overview of Latin America's political and economic development, exploring the factors contributing to the region's current situation. It examines why Latin America fell behind the United States, its high political instability, and widespread inequality. The course analyzes Latin America's history and presents theories from economics and political science to interpret the development path of the region. Additionally, the course examines key features of Latin American democracies, including state weakness, populism, clientelism, and corruption. By analyzing these factors, students gain an understanding of the challenges facing Latin American countries and potential solutions. Syllabus here.

POLISCI 150A: Data Science for Politics

Quarters: Fall 2024, Fall 2025

Data science is quickly changing the way we understand and engage in politics, how we implement policy, and how organizations across the world make decisions. In this course, we will learn the fundamental tools of data science and apply them to a wide range of political and policy oriented questions. How do we predict presidential elections? How can we guess who wrote each of the Federalist Papers? Do countries become less democratic when leaders are assassinated? These are just a few of the questions we will work on in the course. Syllabus here.

POLISCI 150c: Causal Inference for Social Science

Quarters: Fall 2024, Fall 2025, Fall 2026

Causal inference methods have transformed how we use data, statistics, and research design to move from correlation to causation, allowing us to rigorously assess the impact of potential causes—such as new policies or interventions— on outcomes like election results, violence levels, and poverty.

This course introduces the core toolkit of modern causal inference, widely applied in academia, government, industry, and non-profits. Topics include experiments, matching, regression, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity designs. Through real-world examples from policy evaluation, political science, public health, economics, business, and sociology, we will illustrate and apply these methods. Additionally, we will discuss relevant articles in class.

Teaching at NYU Abu Dhabi

CSTS-UH 1012: Wealth of Nations

Semesters: Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021

Teaching before the Ph.D.

Los Andes University

Adjunct Professor: Principles of Mathematics (2016). Graduate level.

Teaching assistant: Advanced Macroeconomics (Economic Growth) (2015, 2016). Graduate level.

Teaching assistant: Economic History of Colombia (2014, 2015). Undergraduate level.

Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia

Adjunct Professor: Principles of Economics (2012, 2013). Undergraduate level.

Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina

Adjunct Professor: Principles of Economic Theory (2012, 2013), Principles of Economic Policy (2012, 2013). Undergraduate level.

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