Dr. Vilma “Nina” Balmaceda is Nyack College’s founding director of the Center for Scholarship and Global Engagement. The Fulbright Scholar earned her law degree from the Pontifical Catholic University’s School of Law in Lima, Peru and master’s degrees in international peace studies and in government and international studies, as well as a doctorate in political science from the University of Notre Dame.
Dr. Balmaceda is also president of Peace and Hope International, an organization dedicated to mobilizing individuals and communities to advocate for social justice and other issues affecting the poor and to educate communities on peace-building in South America.
“After serving in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador for the past 22 years, this year Peace and Hope International is expanding operations to Brazil, Colombia and Chile,” Dr. Balmaceda shares. A promotional video describes the exciting work that she is directing.