Maria Jimenez

Dr. Maria Alejandra Jimenez Ospina holds a PhD in Administration from Universidad EAFIT (AACSB-accredited), where her research focused on business strategy, institutional theory, trade associations and lobbying. She completed a Master of Communication at Universidad de Medellín with emphasis on Strategic Communication and Public Relations Lobby, a Post-Diploma in Marketing at Douglas College (New Westminster, Canada) centered on Marketing Strategy, a Bachelor’s in Corporate Communication at Universidad de Medellín focused on Public Relations and Corporate Communication, and an A.A. in Liberal Arts from Raritan Valley College from New Jersey, USA with concentration in Women & Gender Studies. At University Canada West, she teaches Marketing Management, Ethics, CSR & the Business Environment and leads Career Readiness workshops. 

Teaching philosophy 

Views teaching as a calling rooted in love for knowledge and service; designs challenging yet supportive, project-based experiences that mirror real-world problems; balances guided instruction with independent practice to cultivate critical thinking and collaboration; organizes courses for clarity and access with rubrics, exemplars, consistent schedules, timely feedback and open office hours; adapts to diverse learner needs through flexible methods and media (case work, films, simulations); maintains high standards with constructive, actionable feedback; integrates AI as an ethical learning assistant to prepare materials and sharpen feedback so students gain workplace-ready fluency without myths or fear. 

Expertise and Experience

Academic and consultant with extensive teaching and research experience across Colombia, the United States, and Canada. She currently serves as a Sessional Faculty at University Canada West, teaching MBA-level Marketing Management and Ethics, CSR, and Business Environment, and has also taught at ETON College, VGC International College, and Innivec, delivering courses in marketing, sales, and business strategy. Internationally, she has held full-time and sessional faculty roles at Universidad de Medellín and Universidad EAFIT, where she coordinated the MIB program, redesigned AACSB-accredited curricula, and led research initiatives such as the National Observatory for International Negotiation and Trade. Her teaching portfolio spans undergraduate and graduate programs, covering Commercial Diplomacy, Intercultural Communication, Corporate Communication, and International Negotiation. Beyond academia, Maria Alejandra has extensive consultancy experience, including work with Canadian incubators and accelerators through programs like MITACS and Kanovate Consulting Group, where she provided marketing, business development, and strategic advisory services to Southeast Asian Startup companies seeking to establish and grow in the Canadian market. She has also consulted on digital strategy, crisis communication, and entrepreneurship for organizations such as Custom Aviation (Helifly Colombia), LATINCO, and Ihousefix. Additionally, she has contributed to scholarly activity through refereed publications, conference presentations at EDAMBA, CLADEA, and IDC, and supervision of graduate research projects on blockchain supply chain models for marketing channels and consumer behavior in fast fashion. Her career reflects a commitment to bridging academic knowledge and industry practice, advancing strategic communication, and fostering globally oriented and innovative learning environments 

Publications and Scholarly Activity

Refereed Articles (Published) (including Publication Date, Title of the Articles, and Publisher)

• K-Beauty: ¿Una oportunidad para el aprovechamiento del Tratado de Libre Comercio entre Colombia y Corea del Sur?"  
• Jornal: Revista Digital Mundo Asia Pacifico. ISSN: 2344-8172 p.5 - 19  

Refereed Conference Proceedings (including Publication Date, Title of the Articles, and Publisher)

• The role of union lobby in the process of Institutionalizing the discourse on the use of trade agreements in Colombia 2021 - Proceedings 
• 30th EDAMBA Summer Research Academy - Belgium 

Refereed Articles (In Press) (including Anticipated Publication Date, Title of the Articles, and Publisher) 

• The Historical Development of Public Relations In Colombia: A Holistic Review 
• Book Title: Latin-American and the Caribbean, Continental Perspective in the History of PR: other voices. ISBN-13 978-1137404305. Editorial: Palgrave Pivot 

Refereed Books, Monographs, Compilations, Manuals (including Publication Date, Title of the Articles, and Publisher) 

• Hacia una configuración del campo de investigación de Relaciones Públicas en Colombia" Pensar La Comunicación Tomo IV (SPA)
• ISBN: 9789588922294 Ed: Señal Editora Y Universidad De Medellin, v., p.265 - 322 IV ,2015 

Refereed Chapters, Cases, Readings, Supplements (including Publication Date, Title of the Articles, and Publisher)

• Lo político, lo público y lo privado en el marco de las relaciones públicas: un campo de investigación que se abre paso en Colombia. 
• Pensar La Comunicación Tomo V ISBN: 9789588922294 Ed: Señal Editora Y Universidad De Medellin, v., p.265 - 322 ,2015

Non-Refereed Articles (Published) (including Publication Date, Title of the Articles, and Publisher)

• Manual for the Scientific Publication of Public Relations Cases and Safeguarding Corporate Memory 
• November, 2013, Editorial Universidad de Medellin  

Awards

• Research scholarship for doctoral studies by The University Research Committee and National Board of Scholarly Research and Academic Activity 2017
• Excellency Award and Graduated Cum Laude by The RVCC Foundations (NNJ USA) 2009

Affiliations

• Member of the Society for Experiential Learning 
• Member of the American Marketing Association 
• Member of CLADEA (Consejo Latinoamericano de Escuelas de Administración)