A bit more about me.
A closer look at where I come from, what I study, and how I spend my time outside of it.
Cali, Colombia — where it all started
My name is Valeria Cortes-Mora, and I'm originally from Cali, Colombia. My native language is Spanish, and my entire family is of Latin descent. That upbringing shaped how I see the world — as a set of connected places, cultures, and landscapes, not just points on a map.
I moved to the United States at 16 and have spent the years since studying, traveling, and building a career around geography — the field that first gave language to the things I noticed growing up between countries.
Working in water & GIS
I graduated from the University of New Mexico in May 2025 with a B.S. in Geography. My coursework and research centered on remote sensing, GIS programming, and interactive web mapping — from cities to rainforests.
Now I work as a Professional/Technical Intern at the Southwest Environmental Finance Center, mapping drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across New Mexico and beyond. I'm a geography grad who loves learning about different cultures and travel, which is really just the personal version of the same questions I study professionally.
Outside of research
Hiking
Getting outside and into the landscapes I spend so much time studying from above.
Painting
A slower, more personal way of paying attention to color, texture, and place.
Reading
Always looking for the next book, especially anything that touches on culture or the environment.