María Belén Mendé

María Belén Mendé Fernández, Argentine, has a B.A. in Political Sciences from Córdoba’s Catholic University, and a M.Sc. in Political Communication from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico. She holds a degree in Chat Networks Design and Ontological Coaching from Chile’s Development University and Newfield Consulting. She has worked as a professor and researcher in several institutions such as Monterrey’s TEC, Mty Campus Mexico, Guadalajara University, Guadalajara’s ITESO, Puebla’s University of the Americas, University of Villa Rica Veracruz, Córdoba’s Catholic University, and Siglo 21 University, Argentina, on a wide range of topics such as Political Scenarios in Latin America, Communication, Political Analysis, Governmental and Educational Administration.

She has been a consultant for city and state administrations, departments, and secretariats in Latin America, and has worked as Director of Foreign Relations and Communications Director at EGADE, Monterrey’s Tec. She has also written books about her areas of expertise and been a speaker at international congresses.

Since 2007, she has held several positions at Siglo 21 University: mentor in the Political Sciences program, Secretary of Academic Assessment and Management, director of the Family Business BID/FOMIN program for Argentina’s Central Region, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, and she is currently Dean of the University. Her outstanding performance consolidated academic pillars such as Leadership and Entrepreneurship, Social Responsibility and University Internationalization of its curricula and culture, and developed Technology mediated programs in INNOVA EDUCA21, an inclusive mission that impacted the country and Latin America.

She is a member of CRUP (Private University Deans Council), Cordoba’s Deans Forum, and Red Ilumno’s Board of Directors, a network that gathers 16 Latin American universities to provide advisory on Academic Models development. She is also involved in the Women Leaders Network for the Americas SAIR / OEA – FECEDE Argentina, and the International Association of University Presidents – IAUP, a nongovernmental organization that cooperates with the UN and UNESCO. In addition, she is a member of the Strategic Forum for the National Development and of TEDExRiodelaPlata Accelerator. She was part of the Political Consultants Organization (OCPLA) at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. She is currently a member of the Outstanding Young People’s program from Córdoba’s Chamber of Commerce, and since 2011, she has actively participated in the Educational Leaders’ Program of Córdoba Mejora Foundation, organization that advocates for equal opportunities and sponsors projects that inspire positive social change.