From Venezuela to America: An Evening with Daniel Di Martino

More than 75 people attended a lecture by Daniel Di Martino, a Ph.D. candidate in economics at Columbia University, in the Wortmann Ballroom at Roanoke College on March 10. Di Martino shared his journey from Venezuela to the United States during the college’s David L. Guy Lecture. He highlighted the impact of socialism on his homeland and his advocacy for freedom.

Before the lecture, Bryana Archer '26 interviewed Di Martino, learning about the challenges and opportunities he faced moving to America, his views on socialism, and his efforts through the Dissident Project to educate high school students about the dangers of socialist regimes. Di Martino also reflected on his most memorable experiences in Venezuela and his hopes and concerns for America's political future.

"The hardest part is being far from family and your loved ones,” Di Martino said. “The best part was the freedom and the opportunities, the peace that comes with safety."

Di Martino vividly recalled the omnipresence in of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s president from 1999 until his death in 2013. He noted how Chavez’s his face and signature were plastered on public property, as well as his daily TV show, "Hello Mr. President."

Di Martino also shared the inspiration behind the Dissident Project, which aims to expose high school students to the realities of socialist regimes through the stories of survivors. One stark example of socialism's impact, he mentioned, is the drastic reduction in his family's income due to rampant inflation, coupled with frequent blackouts and water shortages.

You can read the full interview here.