BA in Global Affairs

Daniel Velasquez, 2013

Daniel Velasquez earned a degree in global affairs with a concentration in international development, as well as a minor in business. Combining these studies, he began his own small business, Campesino Specialty Coffee, during his senior year at Mason.

Campesino connects coffee farmers in Latin America directly with roasters around the world. Embodying Mason’s entrepreneurial spirit, Daniel has established an LLC in the United States for importing coffee and another in Medellin [Med-a-YEEN], Colombia, to handle the export side. This gives him the ability to work the entire cycle, ensuring complete transparency and traceability.

He has personally described this model extensively as a favorite guest lecturer in Global Affairs classrooms, where he discusses how coffee commodity chains work globally, what fair trade looks like on the ground, and the importance of ethical business practices.

Daniel has recently relocated to Colombia and by the end of 2017, Campesino plans to purchase its own coffee farm to plant and produce exotic coffees for its client roasters. 

Closer to home, I understand that you can purchase Campesino Specialty Coffee at the Whole Foods store in Fair Lakes.