Manuel Montoya

Manuel Montoya serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of New Mexico, specializing in global political economy and cultural economics. His work integrates planetary concerns into socioeconomic frameworks, advising world leaders on emerging markets and global conflict while maintaining membership in the Council on Foreign Relations.

His academic journey includes:

• Undergraduate studies at UNM as its first Latinx Rhodes Scholar
• Master's in Philosophy from Oxford University
• Politics and Literature studies at NYU
• PhD in International Relations and Comparative Literature from Emory University

Research focuses on value-based economic systems, creative commons, and regional integration, examining how cultural production intersects with social justice and diverse economic models. His interdisciplinary approach combines literary analysis, philosophical inquiry, and economic theory to address planetary-scale challenges through frameworks like epistemologies of capital and diverse economies.

Recent publications trend toward applied cultural economics, analyzing George Orwell's literary works for economic insights, social justice in creative industries, and digital economy corruption. This body of work demonstrates consistent exploration of value systems across historical and contemporary contexts, particularly within creative enterprises and regional cooperation frameworks.

Key recognitions include:

• UNM’s Presidential Teaching Fellowship (university's highest teaching honor)
• Designation as UNM’s first Latinx Rhodes Scholar

As academic advisor for the Binational Business Program (with New Mexico Trade Alliance and COMEXUS/Garcia Robles Foundation), he hosts Fulbright scholars to elevate New Mexico-Mexico economic relations. He mentors through the Ronald McNair program and Summa Academia—supporting first-generation and BIPOC students in graduate research—while developing educational tools like Terra Prime and the "Vessels and Voids" podcast exploring popular culture's role in global civil society.

His collaborative work spans the Nepal Study Center, Science Impact Laboratory for Policy and Economics (SILPE), and multiple institutes including the Latin American Iberian Institute and Center for Social Policy, reflecting deeply interdisciplinary engagement across cultural, economic, and policy domains.