Erika de la Garza is the Program Director, Latin American initiative, at the Baker Institute. Her chief areas of interest include emerging leadership, coalition building between public, private, and civil society actors, as well as trade and business development in Latin America. She conducts research on current events facing the region and organizes lectures and programs to increase awareness about Latin America (and contribute toward the institute’s goal of fostering a better understanding between the countries of the hemisphere.) De la Garza is also responsible for building and consolidating collaboration between the Baker Institute and local and international academic institutions, think tanks, and nongovernmental organizations that focus on Latin America. She has been the head of the Americas Project since 2001. Prior to joining the institute, she worked for several years encouraging foreign direct investment in Costa Rica, her home country. De la Garza has also taught in the Department of International Studies at the University of St. Thomas. She holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University in New York and a master’s degree from the Costa Rican School of Foreign Service.