Bio
Dr. Erich de la Fuente is an adjunct professor of international relations and crisis management in global affairs at Florida International University. His areas of expertise include governance, anti-corruption, international development, political analysis, and strategic communications. He has over 25 years of experience developing, implementing, and evaluating projects in these areas for multilateral organizations and civil society groups operating throughout Latin America, Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Africa, and the Middle East. He has also counseled private companies in government and corporate affairs.
Erich earned a Ph.D. in Governance and Policy Analysis at Maastricht University. His research and recently published book focused on how governments use instruments to curtail news media freedom in democratic states. He also holds an M.A in Government/Latin American Affairs from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a B.A. in International Relations from Florida International University. Erich is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and proficient in Italian and Russian.
In the area of international development, Erich has been a lead advisor for USAID programs around the world, including the Mobilizing Action Against Corruption Activity (Armenia), Justice Reform and Modernization Program (Colombia), Criminal Justice System Strengthened Project (Dominican Republic), Democracy Strengthening Program (El Salvador), Transparency and Integrity Program (Guatemala), Effective Justice to Combat Criminality and Corruption (Honduras), Youth Violence Prevention Program (Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador), Haiti Recovery Initiative (Haiti), Judicial Reform Project (Jordan), Institutional Development and Training Program (Nicaragua), Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) Threshold Country Plan (Paraguay), Duteze Imbere Ubutabera (Let’s Promote Justice) Activity, and the MCC Justice Strengthening Project (Rwanda), and the State-Owned Enterprises Reform Activity, Oversight and Accountability of U.S. Government Direct Budget Support, and the Public Sector - Pro Integrity Activity (Ukraine). He has also conducted trainings for organizations fighting corruption, including chapters of Transparency International in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, the Balkans, and Latin America.
In addition, Erich has provided senior counsel to clients including international organizations like the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Pan-American Development Foundation and World Learning, as well as private sector companies such as Delta Air Lines, Microsoft, DHL, Visa, Apple, Intel, Siemens, Pfizer, Merck, Honeywell Aerospace, Smiths Detection, Solarcentury, and Fortinet.
A firm believer of giving back, Erich dedicates much of his personal time to various nonprofit organizations, including Operation Smile, an international children's medical charity that performs safe cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries, and Junior Achievement, a global nonprofit organization that offers work readiness, literacy and entrepreneurship programs to students. He regularly volunteers to speak to and counsel high school and college students.