Gaby Navarro, a doctoral student from Costa Rica, has become the first participant in a new partnership between Texas Tech University and the Universidad Nacional of Costa Rica. Navarro, who is also a faculty member at the Costa Rican university, is pursuing her doctorate in political science at Texas Tech as part of an initiative to increase the number of Ph.D.-level professors in Costa Rica.
Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo, Texas Tech’s Vice Provost for International Affairs, explained that while many Latin American countries provide accessible undergraduate education, opportunities for doctoral studies are limited. This gap has resulted in a shortage of highly educated faculty members in places like Costa Rica. “Costa Rica wants more doctoral graduates to teach its next generation,” said Trejos-Castillo. “During a visit to meet with administrators at public universities in Costa Rica during 2023, we discussed the opportunity to create a pipeline for Costa Rican faculty to come to Texas Tech and pursue doctoral degrees which would be of great benefit for both institutions and countries.”
Navarro’s path toward academia was shaped by early ambitions influenced by her father’s work as a homicide investigator on high-profile cases such as “El Psicópata.” She initially considered forensic medicine before shifting her focus due to career prospects and personal interests. After earning an undergraduate degree in Customs Administration and International Trade, she discovered a passion for teaching when recommended for an instructor position at Universidad de Costa Rica.
Her teaching career progressed after obtaining a master’s degree in Educational Management with a concentration in Leadership. In 2023, she was selected for a faculty renewal program at her home institution. Rosemary Hernandez, director of international affairs at Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, recognized Navarro’s strengths as an educator: “Gaby has an impressive ability to connect theory with practice,” Hernandez remarked. “As a teacher, she demonstrates dedication and rigor in the classroom, always creating meaningful and engaging learning environments.”
The idea for collaboration between Texas Tech and public universities in Costa Rica emerged during visits by Trejos-Castillo and Graduate School Dean Mark Sheridan to San José. Navarro met with them during their trip after being encouraged by Hernandez. “We were interested in bringing Gaby on as the first student in this pipeline of sorts,” said Trejos-Castillo. She noted that there are many students with master’s degrees but limited access to doctoral programs.
After visiting Texas Tech’s campus and speaking directly with current students about their experiences, Navarro decided to apply and was accepted at the beginning of 2025. She says her experience so far has been positive: “People here have been so welcoming,” she said. “They’re helpful and always greet you with a smile. It’s a good thing I’ve come here.”
Navarro believes that studying political science will enhance her ability to teach international relations upon returning home: “When you have an international trade background, you have a technical background… but you don’t know the political side of the agreements and why certain countries agree or disagree on certain decisions,” she explained.
Hernandez expressed confidence that Navarro will bring back valuable insights: “Gaby’s experience at Texas Tech will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on our university,” Hernandez said. “I am confident she’ll return with not only advanced academic knowledge and research insights but also innovative approaches and an expanded international network.”
Reflecting on her journey so far, Navarro stated: “There’s a whole world full of opportunities, and while Costa Rica is beautiful and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, the experience of seeing the world from a different perspective is invaluable… Whatever you want to do, it’s possible; Texas Tech offers great opportunities like the one I’m currently in. You just have to take the plunge and seize them.”
