Ms Mig Alphonso joined COL as the Gender Adviser for the Gender Equality Initiative on January 10, 2022, bringing over 17 years of expertise in gender and international development and 10 years in a higher education setting. Her diverse background includes extensive fieldwork across North America, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Holding a Master of Arts in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies from Simon Fraser University (SFU) and a bachelor’s degree with a double major in Environmental Studies and Political Science from the University of Victoria, Canada, Mig’s academic focus spans comparative analysis of international development policies, global trends, and programmes dedicated to women’s economic and social empowerment.
Applying a gender lens to policy, research and programming, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Institute for Diaspora Research and Engagement at SFU, where she achieved the Institute’s strategic vision. Throughout her work, Mig applied a collaborative approach to the development of research, policy and practices/programming. Over the past decade, she has designed and implemented transformative gender, climate change and international development programmes at a higher education institution.