Luis Carlos Ugalde received a Ph.D. in political science (1999) and a master's degree in political science (1994) and public administration (1992), all from Columbia University. He also holds a B.A. in economics from the ITAM (1990).

Luis Carlos Ugalde was a professor of political science and chair of the undergraduate program in political science and international relations at the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE) in Mexico City. He has been a researcher and adjunct professor at various academic institutions, including Harvard University's David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (2001); Georgetown University (2002): American University (2000); the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, ITAM, (1989-1996); and the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies, ITESM, (2003).

In addition to his academic career, he has worked in the Mexican government; he was chief of staff to the Secretary of Energy in 1997 and chief of staff at Mexico's embassy to the United States of America from 1997 to 2000. He was appointed president of the Federal Electoral Institute by the Congress of Mexico in October 2003 where he served until December 2007.

While at Harvard for the Spring 2008 semester, Professor Ugalde will teach a course in the Government department on Latin American politics.