Anabela Villach Vaquer, a second-year master’s student in the Master in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies (MALACS) program in the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies, participated in a unique internship experience with the Organization of American States (OAS)—a Washington, DC based organization focused on fostering regional democracy, human rights, security, and development.
Anabela Villach Vaquer at the General Secretariat Building, OAS, where the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity and the Department of Social Inclusion are located. (Photo courtesy of Anabela Villach Vaquer)
Villach Vaquer’s internship with OAS spanned a total of two months, from June to August 2024, and included a hybrid experience with in-person meetings held in Washington, DC.
She was assigned to the Department of Social Inclusion’s section working with vulnerable migration groups.
Villach Vaquer, who is a staff assistant for the College of Arts and Science’s Institute for the Study of Latin America and the Caribbean (ISLAC), said she was driven to take part in the internship for two reasons: the chance to experience firsthand the daily work of international organizations and “the opportunity to collaborate with the Department of Social Inclusion because of its role in promoting equity among vulnerable groups across the Americas, especially migrants, as this aligns with my thesis research interest.”
Originally from Mendoza, Argentina, Villach Vaquer joined USF with training as a professor of constitutional law and international public law and integration.
As a student of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, she said she is focusing her education on relevant and current topics happening in those regions and aims to bring that updated knowledge back with her when she returns to Argentina.
“MALACS allows me to be in contact and take courses with professors specializing in migration experiences, its complexities and the legal and institutional mechanisms that shape them,” she added.
As an intern, she refined her skillset even more through contributing to research
focused on migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and other vulnerable groups, as well
as supported the implementation of activities, report preparation and translation
assistance.
“My favorite experience was assisting in the special meeting of the Permanent Council
that addressed the results of the electoral process in Venezuela. It was highly enriching
since I could see in person how the institutional mechanisms of the organization are
developed in relation to politics and peaceful dispute settlements,” Villach Vaquer
said. “Moreover, I witnessed the labor and discourses of foreign affairs leaders and
their missions since ministries of several countries of the Americas participated
in that special meeting.”
Villach Vaquer credits her work with ISLAC as the pivotal springboard encouraging her to explore opportunities with OAS, specifically the activities organized by ISLAC related to migrations and broader topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, which she said provided her with the necessary background to carry out her duties as an OAS intern.
“The ISLAC event ‘Empowerment Hour: A conversation with Betilde Muñoz Pogossian’ was a turning point for me. This activity offered me the unique opportunity to engage with a key figure involved in such significant international organization, and she also happens to be a USF alumna and member of the ISLAC Community Council,” Villach Vaquer said. “However, the unwavering support provided by Dr. Beatriz Padilla, director of ISLAC, during the application process and internship itself truly made my journey possible.”
“Once at the OAS, I was in direct contact with people and aspects of countries such as Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama. The knowledge gained from being affiliated with ISLAC allowed me to get a deeper understanding of the situation those countries are going through and being able to see the significant impact of the organization in the region,” she added.
Padilla says that ISLAC is committed to supporting students, particularly their academic and professional development through mentoring and by providing resources they need to achieve their goals.
In Villach Vaquer’s case, ISLAC provided the mentorship, networking, and financial support needed to help get her to Washington, DC.
Anabela Villach Vaquer and her internship colleagues in Washinton D.C. participated in a meeting organized by the OAS internship program in the World Bank where the interns had the opportunity to talk with an agent about the goals of the organization and its impact on the Americas. (Photo courtesy of Anabela Villach Vaquer)
“I was very excited that Anabela was embracing this internship at the Organization of American States because it is the most relevant international organization of the continent, and it is always a great opportunity to be able to learn firsthand,” Padilla said. “It reminded me of my own summer experience in Washington, DC, when the learning curve was exponential. I want our students to have similar opportunities that will stay with them forever. In the specific case of Anabela and the OAS, it was also important because one of our most notable alumna, Betilde Muñoz Pogossian works there, which enhances the experience for our students. Anabela is an amazing student, very professional, reliable, motivated and ready to do whatever it takes to help. Her work is impeccable. I consider myself very lucky to have her working with me. Her energy is contagious, so she brings positive vibes to those who are around her.”
Villach Vaquer said the internship opportunity was not just about learning, but also about participating in events of significant political and institutional relevance for the continent.
“This internship was a defining moment in my academic career as a master’s student in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies, and an active member of ISLAC,” she said. “My experience in the OAS provided me with a profound understanding of the challenges faced by migrants and vulnerable groups in the Americas, and the many collaborative efforts international organizations, national states, and local governments are doing to improve rights access and promote equity.”
Upon graduating, she hopes to return to her roles in Argentina with the National University of Cuyo, where she teaches constitutional law, and to the University of Mendoza, where she focused on international and integration law. She also aims to wrap up her PhD work and to achieve governmental leadership positions as a lawyer.
Learn more about ISLAC and the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies.