Associate Professor Matías Fontenla received an appointment in the Department of Economics at The University of New Mexico in 2005. Recently, he served as the Associate Director for International Initiatives Coordination in the Latin American and Iberian Institute. He offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate classes focusing on macroeconomics, development economics, and Latin American economics. From 2010-2014, Fontenla led a Nicaragua study abroad course titled, “Sustainable Development in Nicaragua,” which provided students with hands-on experience in economic development. In this recurring course, students visited and worked in coffee plantations, housing projects, microfinance organizations, urban slums, medical outposts, hospitals, and rural schools. His current research focuses on financial intermediation and economic growth and development.

Education

• PhD in Economics, University of Texas at Austin (2003)
• MA in Economics, University of Texas at Austin (2001)
• BS, BA in Economics and German, University of Utah (1997)