María José Nevárez is an international education professional with more than a decade of experience leading multi-stakeholder partnerships, advising global organizations, and supporting academic mobility across Latin America and the Caribbean. Her work sits at the intersection of education policy, international development, and global cooperation, shaped by a career spanning multilateral organizations, nonprofits, social businesses, and strategic consulting. María José brings deep regional expertise, bilingual fluency in the English and Spanish languages, and a proven record of cultivating strategic multi-stakeholder partnerships that advance equity, wellbeing, and access to opportunity for underserved communities. She currently serves as Co-Director for Harvard Alumni for Education for the Latin America region, contributing to alumni leadership, collaboration, and dialogue on education systems and policy across the region.

Before founding Cardamom Consulting, she served in diverse roles with organizations that include NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Teach For All, and the Organization of American States, where she led and managed engagements with institutions such as, the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, non-profits, and Ministries of Education across the Americas. Her work has included managing large-scale regional initiatives, advising CEOs and nonprofits on multilateral partnerships, coordinating high-level education missions, and advancing policy and advocacy efforts across global forums. She has also supported scholarship programs, and student mobility, building strong foundations for learners seeking international pathways. 

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María José holds a Master of Education in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Master of Arts in International Relations from Hult International Business School, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Jönköping University in Sweden, where she also completed academic exchanges at the University of Mannheim in Germany, and ESSCA School of Management in China. Her research and publications focus on teacher professional development, educational continuity, student wellbeing, and human connection in virtual learning, reflecting her commitment to education systems that honor dignity and purpose. Today, through Cardamom Consulting, she partners with mission-driven organizations, families and caregivers, and students to navigate global education systems, forge meaningful collaborations, and expand access to transformative learning opportunities.