2025 Inspiring Graduate | Guillermo Caraveo

An ancient Greek philosopher once said, "The only constant in life is change." Guillermo Caraveo knows this as well as anyone. He has become highly adept at pivoting through the many detours life has given him.

This fall semester, Caraveo will graduate from The University of New Mexico with an M.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations.

His return to The University of New Mexico as a student was driven by his GI Bill education benefits, knowing he would be missing out if he didn't use them. He also understood that earning a degree could open new opportunities for him.

So, pivoting again, Caraveo returned to UNM in the fall of 2024 to begin his master's degree after a 20-year break.

He currently holds two other UNM degrees, making him a three-time UNM graduate. In 1999, he earned his B.A. in economics and in 2000, he received an MBA in finance.

He even pursued a law degree after his MBA but decided that becoming an attorney wasn't right for him, so he joined the U.S. Navy and served his country for the next six years.

At his Navy supervisor's request, he attended the Defense Language Institute's 64-week intensive Chinese Language and Literature program. Upon completing this program, he became an expert in Chinese linguistics, lending his specialized expertise to support Navy operations.

A leading petty officer once told Caraveo that he could not just rest on his laurels. He needed to keep pushing forward and bettering himself, in whatever that meant to him.

He said, "This was a wake-up call to me at the time. Other Sailors were also going back to school and pursuing advanced degrees, which made me start thinking about what I would do after the Navy. I realized if I go back to school, it could open up more career opportunities."

Becoming a student again has brought a sense of accomplishment, but also challenges.

"If there were one thing I wish I knew going into this program, it would be how to write a proper literature review," said Caraveo. "I started the program a bit naively, thinking I'd already been in school and graduated, so I knew what to expect, but thanks to Dr. Gabriel Sanchez, he taught me what I needed to know to succeed."

He also credits professor Sanchez for helping him bring his military career skills and knowledge into the program to help build on his career trajectory and skill set in Chinese politics.

Caraveo also works full-time, so he has had to find creative ways to prepare for class and complete assignments while working eight-hour days. More often than not, that has meant waking up at 4 a.m. to prepare for class before work.

His inspiration to keep going on the difficult days is his father's sacrifices he made for his family of six. Having immigrated from Mexico, his father worked as a millwright mechanic to support his family.

"He never had the opportunity to pursue a higher education until my junior year of high school," Caraveo said. "I remember my dad hitting the books and studying just to make sure he would be able to provide for us in the future."

Being back on campus has given Caraveo a sense of purpose and community. He has been able to enjoy Popejoy and the shows it offers with his wife, while reminiscing about his undergraduate days with friends and the wonderful memories he made.

"The duck pond was a central meeting place for all of my friends," he said. "We would gather before class to hang out, share ideas or eat breakfast."

After graduation, Caraveo will pursue his Ph.D. in political science and government. He is targeting 2028 to defend his dissertation and graduate with his Ph.D. degree.

Congratulations, Guillermo, on your hard work and accomplishments! May your future hold the opportunities your hard work deserves.