Education:

• PhD, Economics, Georgetown University
• MA Economics, University of Maryland
• BS in Geology, University of Pittsburgh

Languages: Spanish (native)

Technical areas of expertise: Economic Growth, specializing in youth and workforce development; macro-economic and business-enabling policy reforms; private sector engagement; SME development; fiscal decentralization; local economic development; taxation, livelihoods and poverty alleviation in underserved ethnic-minority populations; economic growth diagnostics, and monitoring and evaluation

Dr. Rose Mary Garcia is a versatile economist, manager, and leader with over 25 years of experience in applied international economic development. She has managed Economic Growth and Monitoring and Evaluation units for various USAID implementing partners for nearly 20 years. She has served as USAID Chief of Party on DC-based and overseas activities and has been an IDIQ Director for multiple USAID bidding mechanisms. She has worked in 16 countries throughout South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Rose Mary has provided advisory services to the United States Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Organization of American States.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

“To change the world, you need to start with yourself. If every individual in the world would address the things that hurt them, we would be more compassionate and understanding, and approach the world from a healing centered place.”

What’s your favorite place of all the places you’ve travelled?

Nicaragua is a very special place. It is the second poorest country in Latin America, a country that has suffered from natural disasters, internal war, and prolonged dictatorships, yet the people are lovely, giving, and resilient. This land of volcanoes and lakes has fascinated me since I was a child.