Dr. Balderas is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. He is currently the Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair in Economics. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Colorado and teaches economics and Latin American studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He previously directed the Latin American Studies Program and led the development of the university’s Camino a Santiago study-abroad program, a pilgrimage-based initiative in Spain, among other international academic efforts. His research centers on remittances, with a particular focus on the Mexico–U.S. corridor. Dr. Balderas is known for his commitment to supporting students both academically and personally, bringing a binational perspective to the study of global economics. Outside the classroom, Dr. Balderas is a passionate soccer fan who played competitively at the college in his native country — a shared interest he often uses to connect with students.