Geography alumnus Camilo Rey Sabogal named deputy minister in Colombia
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 20, 2026) – Camilo Rey Sabogal, a University of Kentucky Ph.D. alumnus in geography, has been appointed deputy minister of finance and public credit of Colombia.
Rey Sabogal was sworn in April 20 before Finance Minister Germán Ávila after being appointed on April 17, 2026. He joins Colombia's national economic team during the final months of President Gustavo Petro's administration, where he will support the country's finance and fiscal policy work.
Rey Sabogal earned his Ph.D. in geography in 2021 from the UK College of Arts and Sciences Department of Geography. His doctoral research examined the political economy of heritage space in Cartagena's historic center, with broader scholarly interests in inequality, uneven development and urban geography in Colombia.
“My Ph.D. in geography at the University of Kentucky shaped the way I understand territory, inequality, institutions and public decision-making,” Rey Sabogal said. “It taught me to think spatially and critically about how policies, markets and institutions transform places and affect people’s lives in unequal ways.”
Rey Sabogal describes the perspective earned as essential in his work in research, teaching, urban planning and public service. It also continues to guide him in his new role where “national policy must remain attentive to territorial realities and to the everyday conditions of communities.”
He also credited the UK community with shaping his time in Lexington. "I am deeply grateful for the support my family and I received from professors, fellow doctoral students and members of the Lexington community, who helped us adapt, grow and feel at home," he said. "That experience was academically transformative, but also profoundly human, and it continues to guide my commitment to public service in Colombia."
He holds a master's degree in economic studies from National University of Colombia and a master's degree in territorial and population studies from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Before his appointment, Rey Sabogal served as secretary of planning for the mayor's office of Cartagena, where he helped lead the city's 2024-27 development plan and the revision of its land-use plan. He previously held teaching and administrative roles at the University of Cartagena, including head of research, vice dean and coordinator of postgraduate programs.