Miss Luz Gamarra Caballero

Luz Jesus Gamarra Caballero (ella/she/her) is currently undertaking a PhD in Sociology and Anthropology with a scholarship from the UNESCO Chair in Equity, Social Justice, and Higher Education. As a PhD candidate, I am exploring Indigenous women students’ success in higher education through a case study in the Peruvian Amazon.

My Master’s thesis in Public and Social Policy, titled “A Proposal to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse in Peru Focused on Comprehensive Sexual Education for Future Teachers and Public Servants through Higher Education,” was completed at Pompeu Fabra University in Catalonia where I also did an Internship at Save the Children Catalunya in the Politics section and started working at UNESCO in higher education.

My research interests centre on gender and education, approached through intersectional Indigenous, feminist, and decolonial lenses. I apply and develop creative, arts‑based, and participant‑focused methodologies to support ethical and relational knowledge production.

My strengths lie in designing tools and policies that improve access, participation, and success in higher education, with a strong commitment to equity and quality for students, staff, and institutional leaders. My professional experience with UNESCO IESALC includes benchmarking management and engagement strategies across higher education institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Also, I taught Research Methodology in Peru within the Master of Public Management at the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, where I completed my undergraduate degree in Economic Engineering. Additionally, I have extensive experience in developing social‑impact projects and public policies, building collaborative relationships across higher education, public, and private sectors. Her proactive approach has led to the successful funding of a project that supports future professors from regional Peru in pursuing their academic qualifications.