Paola Fajardo-Heyward

Chair and Associate Professor

Director of the International Relations Program

Director of the Latin American Studies Program

Paola Fajardo-Heyward received her Ph.D. from Binghamton University (SUNY) and joined the Political Science Department at Canisius University in 2010. Her research and teaching explores human rights, the political economy of the development, the politics of the developing world, and Latin America with a special emphasis on Colombia.  At Canisius University, Dr. Fajardo-Heyward has hosted former President of Colombia, Cesar Gaviria and Father Francisco de Roux the President of the Truth Commission of Colombia.

Originally from Colombia, she is fluent in English and Spanish has an interest in Latin America particularly in Andean region countries.  As a student in Colombia, she had the opportunity to travel throughout the country (including the Coffee Region) to conduct field research on conflict and violence.

Prior to coming to Canisius, Dr. Fajardo-Heyward taught classes at Binghamton University (SUNY) on the Politics of Latin America, the Political Economy of Human Rights and International Organizations and the Developing World. In 2009 she was the recipient of the World Politics and Statecraft Fellowship from the Smith Richardson Foundation.

Dr. Fajardo-Heyward is an active member of the Latin American Studies Association and the International Studies Association.

Publications

2018. “Colombia 2017: implementation and uncertainty” in Spanish – Revista de Ciencia Politica, 38(2): 233-258

2016, “The spread of Human Rights Education: Sex Education in Latin America,” M. Fernanda Astiz and Motoko Akiba (Ed.) The Global and the Local: New Perspectives in Comparative Education. Sense Publishers, pp. 31-52.

2015. “Understanding the Effect of Security Assistance on Human Rights: the Case of Plan Colombia.” The Latin Americanist   59 (2): 3-27 

2014. Cingranelli, David; Paola Fajardo-Heyward, Mikhail Filippov. 2014. “Principals, Agents, and Human Rights,” British Journal of Political Science 44(3):605-630