Felipe Martinez

Felipe I. Martinez, a first-generation Mexican-American, is pursuing a master’s degree in Latin American and Border Studies at The University of Texas at El Paso. He is a current Archer Graduate Fellow through The University of Texas System, a prestigious program that selects highly motivated graduate students to live, learn, and work in Washington, D.C., during the summer. As a Graduate Archer Fellow, he will advocate for federal policies that promote sustainable water infrastructure and effective global water resource management. Martinez previously earned a bachelor’s degree in Film and Television Production from The Los Angeles Film School. Additionally, he served as the Community Engagement Manager at the Latino Community Credit Union, a nonprofit financial institution in North Carolina, where he led state-level programs promoting upward economic mobility for disadvantaged communities. He also works as a master’s research assistant at the Center for Inter-American Border Studies, researching energy poverty within the U.S.-Mexico border region. As a first-generation student from the South Texas border, Martinez’s background has shaped his commitment to studying how borders define nations, shape identities, and create systemic challenges for marginalized communities.