JRS welcomes the new Regional Director of JRS Latina America and the Caribbean
22 July 2025

JRS is pleased to announce that Alejandra Castellanos will take up the role of Regional Director of JRS Latin America and the Caribbean. Appointed by Fr Rafael Garrido, SJ, President of the Conference of Jesuit Provincials of Latin America and the Caribbean, she will officially assume her new position on 1 August 2025, succeeding the outgoing Regional Director, Oscar Javier Calderón Barragán.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Oscar for his unwavering dedication throughout these six years of service. During this time, he has led the region with passion and a deep commitment to the JRS mission of accompanying, serving, and advocating for forcibly displaced people.
Alejandra, from Bogotá, Colombia, began her journey with JRS seven years ago in Northern Santander, in the region of Catatumbo, near the border with Venezuela, where she accompanied displaced youth through initiatives focused on prevention and community reconciliation. This initial experience shaped her path, strengthening not only her professional career but also her commitment to social justice and human dignity.
She holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Alejandra has conducted social research with Instituto Pensar, participated in the Erasmus Mundus programme, and earned a Master’s degree in Migration and Intercultural Relations. Upon returning to Colombia, she worked for over three years with UNHCR, leading teams in complex and often fragile contexts such as Maicao and Río Hacha, in the La Guajira region.
To learn more, read the full article published by Jesuitas.