During his time leading the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) from 2013 to 2016, the Honorable Mark Kennedy encouraged students to devote themselves to expanding the reach of freedom around the globe with the goal of making democracy work more effectively. The Mark and Debbie Kennedy Frontiers of Freedom Award recognizes the GSPM graduating student who best exhibits actions or preparations to promote or protect the expansion of political and economic freedom beyond the borders of the United States.
2024 recipient Guillermo Alejandro Noriega Esparza is a graduating student in the Political Communication and Strategic Governance M.P.S. program. He is a professional in political advocacy, promoting transparent governments that are accountable and, above all, respectful of human rights.
About the Awardee
Guillermo Noriega Esparza studied a bachelor's degree in International Relations at UNAM (2002) and a specialization in transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption in the University of Chile (2008). He is a professional in political advocacy, promoting transparent governments that are accountable and, above all, respectful of human rights.
As an activist, he has been dedicated since a young age to promoting democracy and governmental openness globally and actively participating and leading a coalition of civil organizations and universities that resulted in constitutional reforms regarding transparency and their respective regulatory legislations in his country of Mexico. His work has had a direct impact on the quality of life of the population, especially regarding the human right to health and political freedoms, particularly the right to free information among other democratic values.
As a public servant, he now holds the high responsibility of making the local government of Sonora, in northern Mexico, more efficient, transparent, open, and ethical, with significant results in the fight against corruption. His academic achievements and commitment to the democratic agenda and freedoms have earned him broad national and international recognition.