Darynell Rodríguez Torres
I am originally from Colombia, but I have lived in different countries since I was 17 years old and have been in Europe for the last 23 years. I hold degrees in Political Science, International Relations, and Public Policy and Political Communication from West Virginia University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. I have developed my career in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, political risk management and diplomatic advising, in the public and private sectors. Most recently, I worked in the Netherlands at the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) where I was the executive director until 2021. I am passionate about promoting peace and security through effective multi-actor cooperation and inclusive political process, and hope to instill this mindset into my students at IE University. My hobbies include traveling, playing the guitar, football and being with my children.
“In the end, peace is a political project in which all parties must feel comfortable and fairly represented.”
Peace as a political journey
Darynell has always been highly interested in politics and public policy, even from a young age. For him, it was never so much about the power struggle between different parties, but rather the opportunities for collaboration to address common challenges. He was fascinated by the work politicians and diplomats had to do to articulate their ideas and come to agreements.
He started pursuing this passion in Colombia in his early 20s, where he worked as an advisor to the then-President of Congress. This role gave him his first glimpse into the political process and the many different issues Colombia was dealing with at the time.
Soon he was ready for a more global perspective. He wanted to know how politics could be used to promote peace across countries. To Darynell, “peace is a political project in which all parties must feel comfortable and fairly represented.” He began to dedicate his career to furthering this project. It is a long and often complicated journey, but it is very much worthwhile.
Over the course of his career and personal life, he has traveled extensively to diverse locations in all continents. He highlights destinations off the beaten tourist path, like Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Sierra Leone, Fiji, North Korea and more. Darynell thrives on making close personal connections with locals, which is key for success as a political advisor and international relations specialist.
The professor also shared some advice for future professionals who hope to pursue a career like his in international conflict resolution. He believes that it’s important to start with small steps, like internships with a more generalist perspective. But also to continue to develop a particular skill little by little, such as advocacy, communication or project management, in order to offer concrete value to organizations and negotiation, which boils down to understanding others’ needs and motivations and approaching conflict resolution as a collaborative problem-solving exercise.
At IE University, Darynell teaches courses like “Peacebuilding” and “Project Management for Conflict Resolution,” among others, in the Master in International Development and Master in International Relations. He works to cement theory into practical, interactive projects and helps his students carry out their own dreams and initiatives.
What he most loves about teaching at IE University is the diversity of students in his classes, creating a community to which he is proud to belong. In his opinion, the key to success both academically and professionally is thinking critically and asking the right questions about conflict in both micro- and macro-contexts. This type of thinking allows students to pass from theory to reality in the world of international relations.
See more about Darynell Rodríguez Torres.
“In the end, peace is a political project in which all parties must feel comfortable and fairly represented.”
