Hometown: Houston, Texas & Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico

Bio: Johana Mata is an MA candidate in the Latin American Studies Program in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She graduated from Wellesley College in 2017, where she studied French and International Relations with a focus on Latin American history. After graduating, Johana taught elementary school and also worked at a non-profit in the Dominican Republic. Most recently, Johana worked in the House of Representatives, where she focused on developing inclusive educational and child welfare policy while also managing a diverse internship program. As a public servant and educator, Johana hopes to continue her work by deepening her knowledge about Latin America and putting that knowledge into practice at the future National Museum of the American Latino.

In her spare time, Johana enjoys reading, cooking, knitting, and practicing yoga.

Concentration: History, Culture, and Society

Research Area-Substantive: Immigration, collective memory and identity, race and ethnicity, human rights

Research Area-Geographic: Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean