Ernesto Zedillo

Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León is a Mexican economist and statesman whose career encompasses government leadership, academic research, and international policy. Zedillo earned a bachelor's degree from the School of Economics at the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico and completed his M.A. and Ph.D. at Yale University. Prior to his presidency, he worked at the Central Bank of Mexico, served as undersecretary of the budget, secretary of economic programming and the budget, and secretary of education. As secretary of education, Zedillo oversaw the decentralization of the public school system, revised textbooks, and implemented initiatives to improve literacy rates.

Zedillo served as the 61st president of Mexico, concluding the Institutional Revolutionary Party's 71-year tenure in office. During his administration, he addressed a major economic crisis and enacted reforms that contributed to several years of strong GDP growth. His leadership during the 2000 Mexican general election facilitated a peaceful transfer of power to the opposition, marking a significant moment in Mexican democracy.

Following his presidency, Zedillo has contributed to the discourse on globalization, economic development, and international relations. At Yale University, he serves as a senior fellow at the Jackson School of Global Affairs, director of the Program for the Study of Globalization, and professor in the fields of economics, political science, and environmental studies. Zedillo teaches seminars such as "Debating Globalization" and "The Economic Evolution and Challenges of the Latin American and Caribbean Countries." His scholarly work includes edited volumes such as "Trade in the 21st Century: Back to the Past?", "Africa at a Fork in the Road: Taking Off or Disappointment Once Again?", "Rethinking the War on Drugs through the US-Mexico Prism", "Global Warming: Looking Beyond Kyoto", and "The Future of Globalization: Explorations in Light of Recent Turbulence."

Zedillo is a member of The Elders, advocating for nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and human rights. He has participated in delegations addressing global security and policy issues in countries including China, Ethiopia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, as well as at forums such as the UN General Assembly and the Munich Security Conference. Zedillo is chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation Economic Council on Planetary Health and serves on the Global Commission on Drug Policy, the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age, and the United Nations High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs. He chaired the High-Level Commission on Modernization of World Bank Group Governance, which produced the report "Repowering the World Bank for the 21st Century."

Zedillo has received recognition from governments in 32 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Japan, Brazil, and Argentina. His honors include the Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom from Fear Award, the International Award of Lifetime Achievement by the Cristóbal Gabarrón Foundation of Spain, the Gold Insigne of the Council of the Americas, the Berkeley Medal, and the Sustainable Development Leadership Award from the Energy Resources Institute in New Delhi. Zedillo holds honorary degrees from Yale and Harvard Universities, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Ghana, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the University of Miami.