Roger Mina, general manager of Emcali—Cali’s public utility company that provides water, electricity and telecommunications—had just landed one of the most sought-after opportunities of his career: a spot in Yale University’s World Fellows Program, an elite leadership initiative that brings together only 16 people from around the globe each year.
Mina spent months navigating a rigorous application process filled with interviews and evaluations before learning in April that he’d been chosen. He was the only Latin American selected for the 2026 cohort, joining a network of past fellows that includes prominent figures like Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. The program, set to begin in August, promised not just coursework but the chance to teach at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
But when a powerful earthquake struck Cali, Colombia, Mina made a difficult choice: he turned down the fellowship to remain with his team and his city during the recovery. “I can’t leave here,” he said, explaining that his responsibility to Emcali’s employees and to Cali’s residents outweighed the personal and professional benefits of studying abroad.
To read the full story of Mina’s decision and Cali’s ongoing recovery efforts one month after the quake, check out the original article on El Tiempo.
Source: El colombiano que renunció a una de las 16 becas de la U. de Yale para quedarse en Cali tras el terremoto (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: martinluff, BY-SA 2.0 (via Openverse).