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2014 Graduate Profiles Juan Ignacio Burneo M. ’10, B.A. International Development Studies and Politics, Quito, Ecuador
Juan Ignacio Burneo came to Trent all the way from Quito, Ecuador, with the firm belief that every individual can harness their own power to make a difference and create a just society. Having grown up in a developing nation, he wants to use his new-found passion for urban development and his accompanying degree in International Development Studies and Politics to resolve the complex societal and structural problems he experienced first-hand. Juan Ignacio feels that Trent provided him with the unique groundwork to pursue a career needed to make a tangible difference in his home country and around the world. “Throughout my studies here at Trent, I have discovered my interest in the field of urban studies and its link to urban development,” said Juan Ignacio. “My classes and professors have been very important in the process of discovering my passion for this subject. I was glad to know that I had made the right choice in studying my career and I knew that it wouldn’t have been the same if I wasn’t at Trent.” As part of his studies, he was able to put his academic knowledge to use when he returned to study, work and live in Ecuador as part of the Trent-in-Ecuador program. He brought his global perspective to his roles as vice president of HOLA, the Organization for Latin Awareness, as a member of Trent International Student Association TISA, and a performer in Cultural Outreach. He was also part of the Peer Review Group. Juan Ignacio appreciated Trent’s welcoming atmosphere. “Trent is a special place that celebrates your diversity in a way that you are no longer a stranger but a part of a tight community,” he said. “I have grown as a person and feel at home here. I have learned to be as much Canadian as I am Ecuadorian and it has all been the result of my experience here.” Juan Ignacio describes his instructors as mentors and friends. In particular he recalls Professor Baris Karaagac, who hosted a Turkish coffee hour to encourage informal interaction between students and faculty. Juan Ignacio may work in Canada in the field of development or return to Ecuador to work on development projects for a non-governmental organization. “I would like to contribute to development with a fresh and critical perspective in order to mold current projects and encourage a change towards a more humane and fair development.” Awards and Scholarships received at Trent University:
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