Eric Salgado is a graduate student in the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS), studying for his Master’s degree in Latin American Studies. As a 2015 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellow, Eric has received internship opportunities, funding for graduate study, and ultimately a position as a U.S. Diplomat with the State Department. During his time at SFS, Eric has interned with the Political Section of the U.S. Embassy in Brazil and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. He shared his experiences with current BSFS fellow Mary Breen (SFS’19, Science Technology and International Affairs Major).
What sparked your interest in studying Latin America?
I am bicultural. My father is from Tegucigalpa, Honduras and many of my family members have emigrated from Honduras to the United States. I always had that actual connection to the region, but my Honduran heritage was not the most formative part of my life. I decided upon going to college that I wanted to have a deeper connection to the region and bridge the gap that I felt existed between my background and my actual understanding of the region. I continued to study the region because I really fell in love with Latin America’s diversity, history, and culture on a much deeper scale.
Why did you choose Georgetown for your graduate education?
One of my mentors from Fairfield University graduated from Georgetown University with a Masters and PhD. I was really inspired by taking classes from her and learning what she got out of Georgetown. I decided I wanted to replicate that opportunity for myself. In addition to applying to Georgetown after taking a gap year, I also applied for the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship. I am so thankful I was able to secure that opportunity, which has given me a definitive path into diplomacy. I do not think there is any better place to study Latin America and foreign policy than here at Georgetown. The incredible faculty have wide-spanning knowledge on the region and U.S. foreign policy in Latin America; it just made perfect sense to choose Georgetown.
What do you hope to get out of your time at CLAS and how do you see that fitting into your career as a U.S. diplomat?
I have worked with graduates from the M.A. program in Latin American Studies at the U.S. embassy in Brazil and at the State Department headquarters in Washington D.C. It has been inspiring to see the caliber of diplomat that they have become. They have come through this program with a certain depth of knowledge and understanding. I think American diplomats can have the reputation of being close-minded and only interested in defending actions that have been controversial in Latin America’s history, and that is not always the case. I think we have acknowledged our complicated relationship with Latin America, and many of us who have come through this program are committed to enhancing relationships between Latin America and the United States. Knowing that I am coming through a program that is going to provide me a deeper understanding of the region and access to strong thinkers and policy makers is invaluable. Being pushed to think beyond limits and typical constraints is definitely going to serve me well once I head into the real world, specifically the diplomatic world.
What is unique about Georgetown’s graduate Latin American Studies program?
The diversity in our group is absolutely amazing, not just culturally but also intellectually. All of us have different ways of thinking and different understandings of the world. I think experiencing that diversity of thought is the best way to come out of an academic program. There are people from many different countries in the region who add great value to the experience here at CLAS. We can study Latin America out of books, but it is important to get the context from the field, to share our ideas, and to come out stronger thinkers and academics.
What is the atmosphere like among the CLAS graduate students?
At the end of the day, what brings us together and makes us a stronger group is our commitment to understanding the region in a deeper way and appreciating the places we are each coming from and the views we bring to the table. The environment is very collegial. I have worked in groups where I do not necessarily agree with someone else’s concepts or understandings, but that is what makes it a rich experience and where you get the most out of it.
How has your coursework impacted your internship experiences?
I am currently staffing the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. The work here in D.C. is different than the work that you would do at an embassy. I think understanding the region and the pertinent issues is important in the role I currently have. One of my tasks is compiling the most important information from the region every day, which requires an understanding of what the hot topics in Latin America are right now and what our foreign policy principals need to know in order to get through their day and brief the Secretary. It is important to be in a program where you are able to recognize what are the most pertinent issues in the region.
As far as the work at the U.S. Embassy in Brazil this summer, that is where I was able to really pull from my experiences in CLAS. When you get a graduate education from Georgetown, you are taught to think critically and analytically. Bringing those skills to my work at the embassy was absolutely necessary. I was working in the Political Section of the US embassy in Brazil during a time of heightened political tension. There was the Zika crisis, the Olympic Games, and the political fallout and impeachment process. Being able to draw from my experience and what I learned from CLAS served me very well while I was at the embassy. The important thing is that at the Center you are learning how to think; you are learning how to reframe your analysis and apply that to the real world, no matter what sector you plan on going into.
What course has stood out to you and why?
There are two classes that are by far the most exceptional. One of them was Citizen Security & Democracy in Latin America with Dr. John Bailey. It is an exceptional class that really hits on contemporary security issues in the region in an analytical way.
The other class that I am currently in and find extremely applicable to the work that I am and will be doing at the State Department is called International Organizations in Latin America, taught by Dr. Angelo Rivero Santos, who is currently the CLAS Academic Director. It is a fascinating course that touches on some international relations theories and the strengthening of regional organizations in Latin America. Dr. Rivero Santos is absolutely amazing. He has taught me to take a step back and look at the broader picture and analyze trends in the region. This is going to be extremely important for my career when I am writing a cable back to my government describing what is going on and what trends we are observing. The strong suit of Dr. Rivero Santos is that he is both an academic and a practitioner. He was a diplomat for quite a few years, so he bridges the gap between academia and the practical world. That has been absolutely invaluable for me.
What aspects of Georgetown have contributed to your graduate school experience?
There are a couple of things about Georgetown that are its strongest qualities. First, everyone is so intelligent and they bring their experiences and their understandings to class; I do not think you could ask for anything more in a classroom. Even if you do not agree on an issue, facing differing opinions gives you something to ponder and to reflect on, and that is really valuable. The caliber of student at Georgetown is like nothing I have ever seen.
Second, I cannot stress enough the importance of being in D.C. at such a strong institution. The access we have to incredible speakers and incredible academics, as well as the brilliant minds the institution attracts, has strengthened my ability to think and to apply knowledge in internships and ultimately in the professional world. Those two things are transformative.