UMass Amherst

Andrés Gómez

Majors: Social Thought & Political Economy (STPEC), History

Hometowns: Bogota, Colombia; Amherst, Massachusetts


"At UMass, I'm finding tools to better understand the world," says Andrés Gómez. Through his majors and the honors college, Andrés is integrating his academic study with his interests in social justice and activism. Complementing the variety of courses he has taken in humanities and social sciences, he developed and taught a seminar on racism and spent a summer in Peru working with the indigenous people. "I like STPEC because it is an interdisciplinary program that mixes theory with practice," he says.

For his honors thesis, Andrés is exploring student activism. "I'm doing a subjective analysis of the ongoing student movement at UMass using historical research starting with the student strikes of the 1970s," he explains. Dedicated to finding ways to effect social change at any level, he is involved in the on-campus group Take Back UMass. Comprised of students, faculty, staff and community members, the group focuses on such issues as educational access, administrative accountability, diversity and student empowerment.

Through the International Scholars Program, Andrés spent a year studying at the Universidad de Barcelona in Spain. ISP, co-sponsored by Commonwealth College and International Programs, combines seminars and specially tailored courses with individual advising and mentoring to prepare students for their time abroad.

"When I returned from Spain there was a feeling of community and support among students in the program that the advisors helped facilitate. ISP has broadened my horizons and understanding of who I am in relationship to where I am."