J. Sebastián Leiva

Position
MPA, International Development
Role
School of Public and International Affairs
Title
Class of 2023
Bio/Description

Sebastián is a second-year Master’s in Public Affairs (MPA) graduate student at Princeton University with a focus on international development, urban, and climate policy. He was born and raised in Colombia. Prior to joining Princeton, Sebastián worked for a University of California, Los Angeles' research initiative where he managed a portfolio of governance and natural resource projects in sub-Saharan Africa. He also spent four years at Innovations for Poverty Action in Colombia, leading and supporting the implementation of impact evaluations on financial inclusion, private sector development, and crime reduction. Over the summer, Sebastián completed his internship in Mexico City as a Behavioral Design Intern at the World Resources Institute’s The Living Lab for Equitable Climate Action. After graduation, he hopes to support policy efforts to build resilient, sustainable, and inclusive Global South cities. Sebastián holds a M.Sc and B.S in Economics from Universidad de los Andes in Colombia.