After IMS, Andy Gomez attended Westminster School where he played varsity squash and went on to pursue his university studies at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo where he earned a bachelor’s degree in dairy science with a minor in agriculture business. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2010. Following Cal Poly, Andy earned a master´s degree in Agriculture Commerce from Massey University in New Zealand focusing his research on farm and pasture management. Since 2012, Andy has been working on his family farming operation where he manages almost 1,000 dairy cows and a 650 angus herd producing high-quality milk and prime beef to local markets in Bogota, Colombia. Andy recently married Lina Giraldo in the outskirts of Bogota, Colombia on March 25, 2017. Andy still enjoys playing the drums, never forgetting his jam sessions with Ram Miles and the IMS Jazz band.

What is the best advice you ever received?
I remember my mom saying once, “Don’t take your education for granted”. It is possible to lose material things in life, but no one can take away what you have studied.


If you could have an unlimited stockpile of one thing what would you choose?
Cell phones!!! If I lose one more or break another screen I might go crazy! Plus I feel you are forced to change models now almost yearly.

What is the most memorable book that you read while a student at IMS?
Catcher in the Rye in ninth grade English was perhaps the most memorable book I read; but what I remember the most was the essay we had to write, portraying our own “one day experience” at IMS narrated in the same subjective style as the book.

What is the best meal that you’ve ever had on vacation?
What a difficult question! I just got back from a trip to Mexico and I had the opportunity to go to Pujol (restaurant featured in Netflix’s Chefs Table). Without a doubt, my favorite dish in the whole meal was the Mole Madre. This particular traditional Mexican dish is prepared with 30+ ingredients and had been cooking for over 1,000 days!


What is your favorite song in your music library right now?
Playing non-stop on the radio, Bebe Rexha – Meant to Be (feat. Florida Georgia Line) has been stuck in my head and takes me back to my days of being a country music fan while living in California.