Your Partner in International Education Diplomacy in Latin America and the Caribbean
Discover strategic and personalized consulting services for your collaborations with governments, nonprofits, and multilateral organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
About Us
We chose the name Cardamom because this small but powerful spice carries a story that mirrors our mission in global education—one of connection, diplomacy, and transformation. Traced back more than 4,000 years to the lush forests of South India, cardamom has traveled along ancient trade routes to the Middle East and, centuries later, took root in the highlands of Guatemala, where it became one of the country’s most valued exports. This journey across time, continents, and cultures reflects the essence of learning and collaboration that drives our mission: bridging worlds through knowledge, fostering diplomacy across differences, and cultivating growth through the shared richness of global exchange.
Menu of Services
Global Education Partnerships
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Funding for Education
We help nonprofits and education stakeholders strengthen their global impact through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and engagement with multilateral and bilateral organizations.
Our services include partnership strategy, policy analysis, funding proposal support, and tailored learning experiences to navigate the international development and global impact funding landscape.
We also offer communication services—such as speech writing, talking points for panels, and public speaking support. We work across Latin America and the English-speaking Caribbean, providing bilingual support in English and Spanish.
Advising on Academic Mobility
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Qualifications Recognition
We offer clear, expert guidance to help students and institutions navigate the U.S. higher education landscape. Our expertise covers the broad range of degrees, professional licenses, and other qualifications available in the United States, as well as the diverse types of U.S. higher education institutions, including liberal arts colleges, Ivy League universities, community colleges, and public flagship universities. Our support can likewise address areas like accreditation, Optional Practical Training (OPT) & STEM OPT regulations, and community college transfers to four-year universities.
Our advising also assists individuals seeking to move across borders for work or further studies, with guidance on the recognition of foreign qualifications in the U.S. and Europe, visa policies, and pathways to professional licensure. Additionally, we help students and families evaluate their options with regard to American-style schools and universities overseas, ensuring informed decisions regarding global mobility and long-term opportunities.
Learning Experiences
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Academic Career Coaching
We design virtual workshops and learning experiences that inspire reflection, equity, and transformation in education. Our offerings explore themes such as design thinking for equity, deeper learning, healing in education, and AI.
Our 1:1 bilingual advising services are designed to meaningfully accompany professionals, and students in their academic and professional journeys.
Team
María José Nevárez
Principal Consultant
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.
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.
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.
Rafael Nevárez
Senior Consultant
Rafael Michael Nevárez is an accomplished leader in international education and education diplomacy, with over two decades of experience advancing U.S. engagement with foreign governments, multilateral organizations, and global education stakeholders. Most recently, he served as Director of the International Affairs Office at the U.S. Department of Education, where he guided implementation of the Department’s international strategy, advised senior leadership, and led initiatives that strengthened the role of education in U.S. foreign policy.
Over the course of his federal career, Mr. Nevárez managed high-profile bilateral and multilateral relationships across the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. He directed U.S. engagement with major partners—including Brazil, China, Mexico, and Spain—and served as the U.S. representative to multilateral forums, such as the APEC Education Network, the European Network of Information Centers (ENIC), the G20 Education Working Group, and the OAS Inter-American Committee on Education. His work has focused on promoting student mobility, the recognition of qualifications across borders, and international dialogue on a broad range of education issues.
Mr. Nevárez is recognized for his ability to navigate complex policy environments and collaborate effectively with senior government officials, higher education leaders, and diplomatic counterparts worldwide. He has led negotiations of bilateral education agreements, supported U.S. participation in global summits, and managed international engagements for the U.S. Secretary of Education and other top officials. A skilled communicator, Mr. Nevárez has extensive experience delivering presentations to foreign delegations and at international conferences on higher education and global academic mobility.
He is the recipient of several distinctions, including Special Recognition from the Embassy of Spain for contributions to bilateral relations and his selection as an Excellence in Government Fellow. Mr. Nevárez earned a Master of Arts in Education from Chapman University, studied international affairs as a Rotary Foundation Scholar in Argentina, and holds undergraduate degrees from California State University Sacramento and Sacramento City College. He is fluent in English and Spanish, with a working knowledge Portuguese and French.
Contact
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