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Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies USMEX
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Group photo of USMEX team; the right side has a dark blue overlay with the UC San Diego branded element of a stylized tridentMeet the Team

Director

  • Rafael Fernández de Castro

    Rafael Fernández de Castro

    Director, Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies; Professor, GPS; Aaron Feldman Family Chancellor's Endowed Chair in U.S.-Mexican Studies in Memory of David Feldman
    Email | Bio

    Rafael Fernández de Castro is a professor at the School, Aaron Feldman Family Chancellor's Endowed Chair in U.S.-Mexican Studies in Memory of David Feldman, and director of USMEX. A former foreign policy adviser to President Felipe Calderón, he is an expert on bilateral relations between Mexico and the U.S. He is founder and former chair of the Department of International Studies at Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in Mexico City. He has published numerous academic articles and written several books, including “Contemporary U.S.- Latin American Relations: Cooperation or Conflict in the 21st Century?” and “The United States and Mexico: Between Partnership and Conflict” with Jorge Domínguez. He also worked as the Project Director of the UNDP’s Human Development Report for Latin America 2013-14, “Citizen Security With a Human Face: Evidence and Proposals for Latin America.” He is the founder and editor of Foreign Affairs Latin America and contributes to the daily newspaper El Financiero and a regular contributor to Televisa.

Staff

The USMEX staff manages the research agenda of the center as well as its fellowship program on Mexican studies in the U.S., and the coordination of events and conferences throughout the year.

  • Catheryn Camacho Bolanos

    Catheryn Camacho Bolanos

    Associate Director
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    Catheryn Camacho Bolanos has over 15 years of professional experience in the public sector and academia as a public policy researcher, adviser, lecturer, and consultant. Camacho Bolanos is an affiliated researcher with the Center for Studies on Security, Intelligence, and Governance (CESIG) at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de Mexico (ITAM) based in Mexico City. Prior to her work at UC San Diego, she held several positions within the Mexican government. She was appointed to the Protection Department in the Consulate General of Mexico in San José, California, where she provided legal advice to Mexican nationals facing issues related to their immigration status, labor conditions, or civil matters—either in Mexico or the U.S.

    She also worked in Financiera Rural, a Mexican government financing agency that provides economic resources to the rural sector. There, she conducted extensive academic analysis to design and implement a program that finances and provides subsidies to Mexican migrants living in the U.S. She also developed financial strategies for women and young entrepreneurs in the rural sector.

    Later, she worked as a political researcher and international advisor in the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Mexican Senate. After her experience in the Senate, Camacho Bolanos participated in a project titled “Co-Constructing Human Security in Mexico: A Methodology and Action Plan from Communities to the State,” an academic collaboration between ITAM and LSE. She then joined the International Studies Department at ITAM as a lecturer and later became the coordinator of CESIG.

    Camacho Bolanos holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), a master’s degree in government and public policy, and a Ph.D. in law from Universidad Panamericana. Her doctoral work examined the multiple dimensions of security and their impacts on the design of public policy in the case of the Mexican National Guard. She is currently pursuing an LLM at UC Berkeley.
  • Karla Tirado Serrano

    Karla Tirado Serrano

    USMEX Programs Coordinator
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    Karla Tirado Serrano serves as the Programs Coordinator at USMEX, where she helps manage event planning and program logistics. In her role, Karla supports the coordination of key initiatives, including the Visiting Fellows Program, the Summer Seminar programs, and the annual U.S.-Mexico Forum. Her passion for fostering cross-border collaboration is rooted in her deep ties to the CaliBaja region, where she strives to promote policy solutions that benefit both the U.S. and Mexico.

    With experience at various levels of U.S. government, including work with City Council President Joe LaCava, the County of San Diego, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, Karla has developed a strong foundation in policy research, community outreach, event management, and constituent services.

    Karla holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations and a minor in Human Rights and Migration from UC San Diego.
  • Ramon Gonzalez Viramontes

    Ramon Gonzalez Viramontes

    Academic Engagement Coordinator
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    Ramon Gonzalez Viramontes serves as the Academic Engagement Coordinator at USMEX, where he supports research and outreach efforts, program administration, and the coordination of various working groups. In his role, he also works closely with the USMEX Board, helping to strengthen the Center’s engagement with key stakeholders.

    With a strong background in policy research, bilateral relations, and fundraising, Ramon brings valuable expertise to USMEX. His experience spans both academic and private sector roles in Mexico, where he has contributed to research and program coordination in leading institutions. His passion for U.S.-Mexico relations and Mexican foreign policy drives his commitment to fostering cross-border dialogue and collaboration.

    Ramon holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from ITAM in Mexico City, graduating summa cum laude.
  • Claudia A. Fernández Calleros

    Claudia A. Fernández Calleros

    Publications Coordinator and Research Assistant
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    Claudia A. Fernández Calleros is the publications coordinator at the center. She is also a research assistant at FABLE-México, which is part of a global consortium modeling land use to 2050. Claudia received a Master of Public Policy from the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) in 2021 where she pursued a double specialization on Program Design and Evaluation, and Peace and Security. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). Prior to GPS, she worked in the Directions for Health and Financial Literacy at the Institute for Mexicans Abroad.
  • Manuel Aguilera-Prieto

    Manuel Aguilera-Prieto

    Administrative Assistant
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    Manuel Aguilera-Prieto joined the center in Oct. 2023, when he became the administrative assistant, taking over logistical and event-related tasks. In the fall of 2024, he joined a USMEX-affiliated research project that seeks to investigate the perils that migrant women face while traveling through Mexico.

    He is a Master of International Affairs candidate at the School of Global Policy and Strategy. He is entering his second year and specializes in international economics. His interests include political economy, current affairs and world history.

    He holds a degree in international relations from the UC San Diego.