Dany Díaz Mejía is the Honduras country representative for USIP’s Latin America program, where he works on democratic governance in Central America, citizen security and elections.

Additionally, he is a non-residential Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity at the London School of Economics’ International Inequalities Institute.

Previously, Díaz Mejía was the local coordinator for one of the largest studies on extortion in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. He presented the findings to USAID officials in both Washington and Central America so they could be used for future programming.

He also led the field operations of the Academy for Security Analysis, where he worked to improve citizen security in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. There, he supervised over 20 pilot projects — including one with Guatemala’s attorney general and another with judicial powers in Honduras — using rigorous evaluation methodology to establish mechanisms that improve access to justice, facilitate social reintegration and promote crime prevention.

Díaz Mejía was named a fellow of the Center for Evidence Based Management for his contributions in Central America. He also has extensive experience as a leadership development facilitator with the Latin American Leadership Academy based in Colombia.

In addition to his work in international development, Díaz Mejía has completed artistic residencies in Hungary, Portugal and Spain and published a short story collection, “La Quebrada,” and a personal essay collection, “Chronicles of what we leave on the shore.” His writing has also been published by outlets such as Gato Encerrado and America Magazine.

Díaz Mejía holds a master’s in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s in political science from John Carroll University.