Laura Liliana Villegas Gutierrez

I’m Laura Villegas, a Ph.D. student in Social Work at the University of Georgia, where I also earned my Master of Social Work. I hold a Master in International and Political Studies and a Bachelor in International Affairs from my home country Originally from Colombia, I bring over 15 years of experience working alongside communities affected by armed conflict, displacement, and exploitation — first as a humanitarian aid worker and policy advocate, and later as a researcher committed to understanding how people rebuild their lives after violence.

At UGA, I work with the Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach and have supported survivors through local nonprofit work. My research sits at the intersection of peacebuilding, forced migration, and social inclusion — with a particular focus on the barriers immigrants and refugees face as they navigate adaptation and resettlement, and on the community-led solutions that help them thrive.

Fun question — If I were an animal, I would be a hummingbird — and not just because Colombia is home to more species of them than anywhere else in the world. Small but mighty, always in motion, and somehow able to find sweetness even in the most unexpected places. I think that reflects how I try to approach both life and my work: always looking for the honey.