Cultural Diplomacy, Folklórico, and Community: Alejandro Chavez's Graduate Student Experience
For current graduate student Alejandro Chavez, connecting his career with a sense of community and belonging is one of his biggest priorities. “My identity has always led me to be passionate about issues of immigration, economic opportunity, and education for the Latino community,” he says. As the Korbel School celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting Alejandro’s experiences as a graduate student, dance troupe member, and advocate for migrant communities.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Alejandro spent some time working for a non-profit in Denver. He would eventually return to the Korbel School to pursue his master’s in International Studies with a focus on Latin American Studies. He is also balancing a part-time job as an Employer Relation Assistant for the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) and coursework for his certificate in Public Diplomacy. Both give him experiences that cut across his major — whether with other faculty members or employers looking for International Studies and Policy students in the area.
“Coming to DU during my bachelor’s,” says Alejandro, “I had a narrow idea of how I wanted my career to pan out, which was very focused on the federal government. As I get older, I have this strong passion for my community and culture, and so cultural diplomacy feels like a very strong fit for how I want to see my career proceed.” Alejandro is one of many students at the Korbel School who take advantage of the flexible, diverse curriculum that helps graduate candidates discover new passions and reconnect with old ones. For Alejandro, working with Professor Rebecca Galemba and a non-profit called Centro de Los Trabajadores Colorado — the only day laborer center in Denver — was one of those pivotal turning points. Together, they helped create an integration program to benefit Venezuelan migrants who were newcomers to the state.
Beyond his advocacy through the Korbel School, Alejandro also partakes in local dance and theatre that celebrates the heart and soul of Mexican heritage. “Both my grandfathers are immigrants from Mexico, and both my grandmothers grew up in a small town in southwest Colorado,” he says. “Growing up here in Colorado myself, I was part of Folklórico groups as a child. I got reconnected to that community in 2021 through friends that were starting their dance company here in Colorado.” Alejandro is a dancer in ArtistiCO and has performed in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House — with future performances on the near horizon.
Even though Alejandro attributes many community connections to his time at DU, he acknowledges there is a long way to go. “I think there are definitely some moments when you feel that imposter syndrome seep in,” he says, “especially when you first arrive on DU's campus. Often, I see that I am the only person of Latino descent in the classroom. But in this specific graduate program, I was grateful to have a lot of international students and students of color in my cohort.”
Alejandro was recently selected to join the 2025 cohort for the Capitol Fellowship Program with the Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy Research Organization, which provides public policy training to college students. His next ArtistiCO performances will be at the Gates Concert Hall on December 2nd & 3rd, titled Fiestas Navideñas. To reserve tickets, follow this link. To learn more about Alejandro’s journey and his relationship to Hispanic Heritage Month, follow this link for his full interview.
