Ofelia Riquezes joined Florida International University's Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs in 2020. Originally from Venezuela, she is a lawyer with a Master's degree in Human Rights, Rule of Law and Democracy in Latin America (Universidad de Alcalá, Spain) and holds a PhD in Political Science (Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela).
Before moving to Miami, Dr. Riquezes was a Human Rights and Civil Law Professor at Universidad Metropolitana's Faculty of Legal and Political Studies for several years. Prior to that, she practiced as an attorney in a well-known legal firm in Caracas. Dr. Riquezes continues to contribute to research projects led by Universidad Metropolitana's Human Rights Center, of which she is a founding member.
Her research focuses on transitional justice processes in Latin America and international human rights law. She is a Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor in the Green School's Department of Politics and International Relations, and also serves as Director of the Havel Program's Undergraduate Certificate Program in Human Rights and Political Transitions.