Lucinda Vargas

Lucinda Vargas is a College Professor of Economics and Associate Director of the Center for Border Economic Development at New Mexico State University, part of the College of Business. She holds academic appointments in the Department of Economics, Applied Statistics, and International Business. Her expertise bridges academia, government, and non-profits, with roles such as CEO of Plan Estratégico de Juárez, Senior Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and Research Associate at the U.S. Treasury Department and the University of Texas at El Paso’s Center for Inter-American and Border Studies.

Education:

• Doctor of Economic Development, New Mexico State University
• M.A. in Economics, The Pennsylvania State University
• B.B.A. in Economics, The University of Texas at El Paso

Research Interests: Focuses on development economics, institutional frameworks, U.S.-Mexico economic dynamics, and border economics. Her work examines monetary policy impacts, cross-border trade, and regional economic development strategies, particularly in Mexico and the U.S. border region.

Professional Contributions: Served on boards of U.S. and Mexican public/private organizations. Previously taught at higher education institutions in both countries. Active in non-profit leadership, policy analysis, and international economic collaboration.

Labs/Teams: Leads initiatives at the Center for Border Economic Development, focusing on binational economic strategies and policy research.