Natalia Peñuela Gallo

(She, Her, Hers)

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator

Faculty of Health and Social Development, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, School of Nursing, Social Work

Office: ART345
Email: nataliap.gallo@ubc.ca

Biography

Natalia (she/her) joined the FHSD as the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator on August 2022. As an uninvited guest to the unceded, traditional and ancestral territory of the syilx Okanagan nation, she feels honored to live, learn and work in Indigenous lands. Natalia is a queer woman who is passionate about justice, respect and reciprocity. She is inspired by the extraordinary voices of resilience and resistance from those who work everyday to make our world a better place. She thinks that we all have the responsibility to deconstruct, re-learn and self-reflect on our positionalities and the impacts we have on our communities.

She has an MA in interdisciplinary studies from UBCO, and her thesis was titled Violence against Social Leaders and Human Rights Defenders in the Context of the 2016 Peace Accords in Colombia. Alongside the EDI Advisor to the Dean, Rishma Chooniedass, Natalia will work on improving EDI-related initiatives and strategic plans in FHSD and the three Schools. She is excited to support and learn alongside with FHSD colleagues and students.

Degrees

BA International Relations, University of British Columbia