Mariela Noles Cotito is a Professor of Political Science and of Discrimination and Public Policy at the Department of Social and Political Science at Universidad del Pacifico, in Lima, Peru. Her research agenda includes topics of gender equality, social inclusion policies in Peru, and how the intersection of different systems of oppression position different groups outside of the scope of legal protection in the country. Most recently she is focused on exploring the effectiveness of ethnoracial legislation to promote and protect the rights of Afrodescendants in Peru. She holds a Law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, an LLM from the University of Pennsylvania, and two MA degrees in Latin American Studies and Political Science from the University of South Florida.

Concurrently, she has held positions within the Directorate-General for Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination in the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations in Peru, the Directorate of Public Policies for Peoples of African descent within the Ministry of Culture, and a top advisory position in the Office of Women and Equality of the Metropolitan Municipality of the City of Lima on issues of diversity and social inclusion.