BIO

I am a Visiting Fellow at the School of Transnational Governance (STG) - European University Institute, following a previous research stay as a 2022-2023 Policy Leader Fellow. I am also a PhD candidate at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). I hold a master in International Development with a specialisation in Politics and Governance from the University of Manchester – Global Development Institute (former Institute for Development Policy and Management). I also completed a postgraduate certificate from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) while participating in the Hansard Research Scholar Programme. I obtained an undergraduate degree (bachelor and licenciatura with summa cum laude) in Political Science and Government (with studies in Law) from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (PUCP). I also participated in the international exchange programme at Sciences Po, Paris.

 

My doctoral project examines the effects of the judicialisation of grand corruption in the Lava Jato era (Peru and Brazil). I conducted research in Lima, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, and Brasilia. My work has been supported by the DAAD, the Centre for International Migration and Development (joint operation of GIZ and the German Federal Employment Agency), the Faculty of Humanities - at the University of Manchester, the Institute of Social Sciences - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Santander Latin American Study Award, King's College Doctoral Training Centre, King's College International Development Institute, Stellenbosch University, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, among others.

 

My broader research agenda includes gender and politics, international development, party finance and electoral spending, and governance. I am a keen linguist, fluent in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese, and I have a working knowledge of German.

 

I am deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. As a young woman from the 'Global South', I believe academic institutions and public debate should include underrepresented voices. I enjoy volunteering as a mentor for the Manchester Gold Programme (University of Manchester), KCL Mentoring Programme (King's College London), and formerly in the Queen's Young Leaders Awards (UK). I am the CEO and co-founded the NGO Voceras to close the gender gap in Peruvian media. I received an Alumni Volunteer of the Year in 2020 (University of Manchester) for this project.

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I served as co-convenor of the European Consortium for Political Research's Standing Group on Latin American Politics, and I am part of the advisory committee of the Peru Section of the Latin American Studies Association.

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I appear regularly in media analysing Peruvian politics, corruption and women's political representation in English and Spanish, including the New York Times, the BBC, the Financial Times, CNN, Bloomberg Línea, the Times and Peruvian media outlets (selection of interviews, podcasts, video and audio presentations here).​

 

​       Follow me on Twitter or contact me at denisse.rodriguezolivari (at) eui.eu

       How to pronounce my (multi-country) name

      Check my Link.tree for my latest events and political commentaries

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When I am not working, I am looking for new eateries to try out, visiting galleries and museums,  and looking for a music gig or planning a city break. I can do all those things here in Florence while embracing my Italian heritage. As a Peruvian-Italian or bachiche - a slang to describe South American descendants of Italians - I devote my free time to exploring the ties between Italy and Peru in food, popular culture, language, architecture...did I say food already?