Professional Affiliation

Program Associate

Expert Bio

Robert Donnelly is the Program Associate for the Mexico Institute. Prior to coming to the Wilson Center in August 2008, Donnelly was most recently Coordinator of the Justice in Mexico Project at the University of San Diego's Trans-Border Institute, a position he held from 2006. As Coordinator, Donnelly organized a nine-part working group meeting series that examined criminal justice reforms at the state level in Mexico, wrote and edited a monthly news synthesis on rule-of-law-related developments in Mexico, coordinated project publications, and assisted with the planning of a five-part speaker series on legal ethics. From 1997 to 2002 Donnelly worked a freelance and staff journalist in Mexico City, writing for trade publications, wire services, and magazines. Donnelly speaks fluent Spanish.
 

Education

M.A., Latin American Studies, University of California, San Diego; B.A., A.B.J., History and Journalism, University of Georgia; Diploma, Centro de Enseñanza Para Extranjeros, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
 

Subjects

Immigration,Mexico,U.S.-Mexico Relations,Border Regions
 

Experience

Coordinator, Justice in Mexico Project, Trans-Border Institute, University of San Diego; adjunct instructor, Latin American history, San Diego City College; graduate research assistant, Latin American studies department, University of California, San Diego; teaching assistant, Spanish, linguistics department, University of California, San Diego; freelance journalist (Cuernavaca, Mexico, and Mexico City); financial news wire journalist, Bridge News Service; general assignment reporter, The News (Mexico City)
 

Expertise

Mexico; U.S.-Mexico relations; immigration; U.S.-Mexico border

Major Publications

• "Police and Public Security in Mexico," co-editor with David A. Shirk (University Readers, 2009)
• "The U.S.-Mexico Border: Special Challenges, Special Opportunities," in The United States and Mexico: Towards a Strategic Partnership (Woodrow Wilson Center, 2009)
• "Guidelines for the Competitive and Sustainable Development of the U.S.-Mexico Transborder Region," contributor (Border Governors Conference, 2009)
• Fact Sheet: Narco-Trafficking & Violence in Mexico with Theresa Firestine, Ruth Gómez, Cory Molzahn, and David Shirk (Trans-Border Institute, University of San Diego, 2008)
• Conference Report: Reforming the Administration of Justice in Mexico (Trans-Border Institute, University of San Diego, 2007)
• Crisis in Oaxaca: Domestic and International Implications with Verónica López Arellano (Trans-Border Institute, University of San Diego, 2006)
• Trans-Border Migration and Development with David Shirk (Trans-Border Institute, University of San Diego, 2006)
• Immigrants and Health Agency: Public Safety, Health, and Latino Immigrants in North Carolina (Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, University of California, San Diego, 2005)