The Latin America Initiative at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy is an interdisciplinary hub for research, teaching and policy engagement focused on the political, economic and social transformations shaping Latin America and its global connections.
The program serves as a platform for advancing policy-relevant scholarship on governance, development, economics, security and democracy across the region.
At a moment of profound political and economic change in the Americas, the program fosters rigorous analysis and meaningful dialogue on the forces reshaping Latin America and its relationship with the United States and the wider world. Through research, education and public engagement, the program connects scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners to develop innovative solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges and opportunities. By bridging academic inquiry with real-world policy debates, the program prepares the next generation of leaders to engage thoughtfully and effectively with Latin America’s evolving role in global affairs.
Gustavo Flores-Macías serves as the dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Prior to joining the University of Maryland, Flores-Macías served as professor and senior associate dean for strategic initiatives for the Jeb E.
Areas of Interest
Politics of economic reforms; democracy; taxation; crime and policing; militarization of public safety
Susan W. Parker is a professor in the School of Public Policy. Previously, she was a professor of economics at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) in Mexico City.
Areas of Interest
Education & health in developing countries; conditional cash transfer programs & targeting
Juan Pablo Martínez Guzmán is an assistant professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland College Park. His research examines the factors that influence budgetary decision-making processes and the role of social equity in public budgeting.
Areas of Interest
Public budgeting; public financial management; public pensions
Julio Guzman is the director of international programs and clinical professor at the School of Public Policy. He has over twenty years of experience at the intersection of politics, democracy, and trade and development in Latin America.
