Patricia H. Escamilla-Hamm, PhD.
Areas of Expertise:
•US-Mexico Relations
•Combating Transnational Criminal Organizations
•Immigration
•Border Security Policies
Biography:
Dr. Escamilla-Hamm is Associate Professor of National Security Affairs. Her academic career has focused on the study of US-Mexico relations regarding combating transnational criminal organizations, immigration, and border security policies. Prior to joining CHDS, she was a Professor at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (2008-2010, Mexico); assistant profesor at the Department of Political Science at Iowa State University (2003-2008); and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Political Science and the School of Social Sciences at the University of California, Irvine (2001-2003). She has been a consultant for Mexican, binational, and U.S. government institutions on security, and frequently lectures at various academic institutions and other fora. Moreover, Escamilla-Hamm has written numerous op-ed pieces for La Opinión (Los Angeles, Ca) and La Jornada (México); and frequently provided commentary for U.S. media like The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, CNN en español, and Univisión, as well as several Mexican television, radio, and printed venues.
She has a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California; M.As in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and in Social Sciences from the University of California, Irvine: as well as a Ph.D. in Political Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Escamilla-Hamm was born, raised, and educated in Mexico City, but has lived in the United States for many years.
Publications:
•“Políticas de Seguridad Nacional en la Frontera,” in La Evolución de las políticas públicas en la frontera norte en el Siglo XX, ed. Barajas et al. (2011).
•“La lucha contra el crimen organizado en Estados Unidos: Alcances y límites,” in Crimen organizado, seguridad e iniciativa Mérida en las relaciones México-Estados Unidos, ed. Raúl Benítez Manaut (2010).
•“International Interests and Foreign Policy Priorities of the Mexican Diaspora,” in Double Diversity, ed. Ernest J. Wilson III (Routledge, 2004).