VRios_webI belong to an emerging generation of academics that rejects the commonly accepted idea that academia is inexorably detached from policy decisions and social mobilization. Instead, I rely on data analysis, research journalism, and close collaboration with academic peers to advance an acute understanding of the pressing social problems of Mexico, my home country, and to encourage and publicize inadvertent solutions to them.

I am a visiting assistant professor at the Department of Government, Harvard University. I use experimental and observational data to show how democratic transitions affect political corruption and criminal violence. I have published several peer-review papers at journals like The Journal of Conflict Resolution, Justice Quarterly, Latin American Research Review, Latin American Politics and Society and an edited book entitled #TheMissingReform.

 
In 2018, I was honored to be selected as the Latin America Editor's Pick by the Library of Congress, and two years before, due to my research about corruption, I was selected by the Mexican Senate to be the youngest selection commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption System. The Economist profiled me as a “mover and shaker” of Mexico's civil society, the Harvard Gazette selected me as one of the 15 Harvard’s stellar graduates, and the American Political Science Association awarded me the prize to to the best public administration dissertation in 2014.
 
Besides my labor as academic, I regularly collaborate with top political leaders, helping them identify, measure and expose counter-intuitive policy truths using data. I have briefed the Mexican President’s Spokesman, and advised the Minister of Finance and the President of one of the largest business organizations in Mexico. I was also the founding CEO of México ¿Cómo Vamos?, a start-up think tank, and of ¿Fuiste Tu? (Was it you?) a reaseach collective that uses data analysis to identify cases of corruption in Mexico. 
 
I am a regular a weekly columnist at Excelsior, one of Mexico’s main national newspapers since 2015. I am regularly interviewed as an analyst of Mexican politics by The Guardian, The Washington Post, and other international and mexican media.
 

Other websites: Wilson Center , Google Scholar

Photos: photo 1 , photo 2

For speaking engagements, contact:
Georgina Jiménez at gjimenez@dateras.com.mx