The Mentality of Colombian Elites

Ricardo Gomez, PhD, will discuss his recent book titled "If we are not an educated people," a work focused on the contemporary history of Colombian elites. The audience will learn the history and evolution of the elites in Colombia and their current mentality regarding education and science.

Gomez graduated as a lawyer and then obtained a master’s degree in international studies from the University of Leeds, U.K., and a PhD in Social Studies from Universidad Externado de Colombia. His doctoral internship was at the Max Weber Institute of Sociology, part of the University of Heidelberg, Germany. He was a fellow of the Eisenhower Foundation, who also studied innovation and management. He has published three books about science and innovation. 

He has more than 20 years of experience in the educational sector, during which he served as rector of the Universidad de Caldas, of Universidad Autónoma de Colombia and, currently, the Corporación Universitaria Iberoamericana-Ibero in Bogotá. He was secretary of education of Manizales, Colombia, and a director, board member and consultant of several nongovernmental organizations and lecturer at multiple universities. He also served as governor on duty of Caldas Department.