Francisco Lara-Valencia

Francisco Lara-Valencia serves as an Associate Professor in the School of Transborder Studies within Arizona State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He concurrently holds leadership positions as executive director of the Association for Borderland Studies (ABS) and director of the Transborder Policy Lab.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Urban and Environmental Planning, University of Michigan
• Graduate Studies, Mexico
• Undergraduate Studies, Mexico

His research integrates sustainability frameworks with urban planning to address challenges in US-Mexico border cities, while examining governance structures and policy implementation through comparative methodologies. He pioneers pedagogical approaches for border education, emphasizing transnational dynamics and sustainable development.

As director of the Transborder Policy Lab and ABS executive director, Lara-Valencia spearheads interdisciplinary initiatives that bridge academic research with policy formulation, fostering international collaboration on borderland issues.