Mitchell Collins
Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.— bell hooks
Mitchell is passionate about addressing the increasingly complex issues of today through solutions that are context-driven, locally empower(ed/ing), and oriented toward a more just and equitable world.
Mitchell’s background in foreign policy, human rights and human security guide him to seek answers in collaboration with a diversity of voices to ensure that his relationships and work are grounded in a recognition of human dignity and respect. With substantive international experience ranging from Central and South America to Eastern Europe, he enjoys working in intercultural spaces and always strives to think critically about the connections and intersections within and between any given topics.
His areas of expertise include:
- Gender and intersectional analysis
- Human Rights and Humanitarian law and policy
- Intercultural engagement and education
- Peace-building and transitional justice mechanisms
- Sexual and gender-based violence
Experience
Prior to joining MG/ISMG, Mitchell was a Fulbright Scholar in Asunción, Paraguay, where he taught English to students at the National University and explored Guaraní sociolinguistic identity. He was also a cohort member of the U.S. Department of State’s two-year U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program, which allowed him to gain experience in the U.S. and abroad on foreign policy, democratic governance and human rights.
He has a B.A. in Spanish and International Studies with a concentration in International Development from Centre College and an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.
In Community
Mitchell cares deeply about his home state of Kentucky and advocates for better understanding of, and support for, Appalachia both in his personal life and volunteer work. He has also served as a translator for Central American communities in the U.S. and in Guatemala, seeking public health and immigration services.
He enjoys spending time with close friends, getting outdoors, and inundating himself with an embarrassing amount of pop culture. You can find him in Washington, D.C., where he is most likely adoring the dog that just passed him on the sidewalk.