Alfonso Pedraza-Martinez

Alfonso Pedraza-Martinez serves as the Greg and Patty Fox Collegiate Professor of IT, Analytics, and Operations for the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, where he directs both the Humanitarian Operations (HOPE) Lab and Business On The Frontlines initiative. His academic leadership bridges business education with humanitarian practice through innovative research and educational programs.

Pedraza-Martinez earned his PhD in operations management from INSEAD (France), establishing the analytical foundation for his work at the intersection of business operations and humanitarian challenges. His educational background informs his approach to applying rigorous analytical methods to complex humanitarian problems.

His research program focuses on understanding major global humanitarian challenges through multiple methodological approaches. He investigates water management in Sub-Saharan Africa, humanitarian response to conflict in Latin America, and wildfire information management in North America. His work combines field research with analytical modeling to address practical problems faced by humanitarian organizations operating in challenging environments. Pedraza-Martinez specifically examines how information systems, resource allocation mechanisms, and operational structures can be optimized to improve humanitarian outcomes while identifying broader lessons applicable to business contexts.

His publication record reveals a consistent trajectory of impactful scholarship in humanitarian operations, with articles appearing in top journals including Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, Management Information Systems Quarterly, and Operations Research. Pedraza-Martinez's research spans multiple dimensions of humanitarian operations, from fundraising mechanisms and resource allocation to information systems and fleet coordination in disaster response. A notable trend in his recent work is the increasing integration of digital technologies and data analytics in humanitarian decision-making, demonstrating how information systems can enhance crisis response and recovery efforts.

• 2022 Luk Van Wassenhove Career Award from the European Working Group on Humanitarian Operations

Pedraza-Martinez actively mentors students at multiple levels, teaching humanitarian operations analytics courses at both MBA and PhD levels while directing undergraduate research projects. Through the HOPE Lab, he creates experiential learning opportunities that connect academic theory with practical humanitarian application, preparing students to address complex global challenges. His advising philosophy emphasizes real-world engagement, bringing students directly into contact with humanitarian organizations and field challenges.

As director of the Humanitarian Operations (HOPE) Lab and Business On The Frontlines, Pedraza-Martinez leads interdisciplinary teams that bring together business scholars, operations researchers, and humanitarian practitioners. These initiatives create platforms for collaborative research, education, and practical interventions in humanitarian contexts worldwide, fostering innovation in how organizations respond to crises and build resilience in vulnerable communities.