Diana Sophia Córdoba awarded the 2026 Michel David-Weill Scholarship

Diana Sophia Córdoba graduated in May 2026 from Columbia University with a major in Urban Studies, a specialization in History, and a minor in French. Her academic and professional work centered on migration, urban policy, and the lived realities of displaced populations. Across her studies and fieldwork, she has developed an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how global governance systems and local policies shape migration experiences.

Raised in Iowa as a first-generation American with deep ties to Colombia, Sophia’s early life instilled in her a nuanced understanding of belonging, identity, and transnational connection. At Columbia, she combined coursework in political science, history, and urban studies with research methods to examine migration in global cities.

Sophia’s commitment to migration justice extends beyond the classroom: she has worked with immigrant and refugee communities through roles at the International Rescue Committee, Columbia’s Community Impact program, and Project Rousseau in New York City. She has also demonstrated leadership in journalism and academic publishing as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Barnard-Columbia Urban Review and Director of Podcasting and Audio at the Columbia Daily Spectator, where her work earned a College Media Association Apple Award.

At Sciences Po, Sophia will pursue a Master’s in International Governance and Diplomacy, aiming to deepen her expertise in migration policy and contribute to more humane, evidence-based migration systems.

With her academic excellence and commitment to advocacy, Diana Sophia Córdoba represents the next generation of leaders dedicated to building more just and inclusive societies.