News of 2009

September 2009

September 9-12, 2009

Dr. Barry Lawrence and Dr. Jorge Leon, Co-Directors of the Global Manufacturing and Distribution Research Initiative traveled to El Salvador September 9 to12 with a delegation from Texas A&M including Dr. Michael Greenwald, Director of International Studies Degree Program, Dr. Roger Norton, Executive Director for the Office for Latin America Programs, and Ms. Maria Alves, Program Manager for South American in the Office for Latin American Programs. The purpose of the trip was to explore the possibility of extending The Texas-Mexico Trade Corridor Project into Central America, called Mesoamerica Trade Corridor. In addition, the delegation explored student and faculty exchange programs with ESEN as well as with the University of El Salvador. The delegation met with different governmental institutions that could finance this type of collaboration. To conclude, they also explored student internship possibilities. In this visit, the delegation met with representatives of various research and education institutions, the US Embassy, local businesses and the Aggie Club of El Salvador. El Salvador .com La Prensa Grafica .com

August 2009

August, 2009

The 2009 Houston Brazilian Festival The 2009 Houston Brazilian Festival, themed “Discover Brazil” is Houston’s first and only festival dedicated to exploring and celebrating the art, history, life and culture of Brazil. More information: www.houstonbrazilianfest.org

June 2009

June 18, 2009

Soltis Center for Research and Education Officially Opens its Doors On June 18, 2009 a Texas A&M delegation headed by Ambassador Eric M. Bost (center) (Ret.), the university’s Vice President for Global Initiatives, went to San Isidro de Peñas Blancas for the opening ceremony of the Soltis Center. The ceremony honored the fine contributions of the Soltis family in making this Center a reality. Its setting is unique, next to a rainforest reserve, and it is well equipped with laboratories and dormitories. It will provide an excellent facility for generations of students from Texas A&M and will serve as a bridge to the entire Costa Rican community for research, teaching and outreach. To know more about this event please visit: Texas A&M News and Information

June 18, 2009

Opening Ceremonies for The Soltis Center for Research and Education Texas A&M University is pleased to announce the opening of The Soltis Center for Research and Education in Costa Rica. This Center is a result of the vision and generous donation of Mr. Bill Soltis ‘55 and his family. The opening ceremonies will take place on June 18, 2009. The Center is located in San Juan de San Isidro de Penas Blancas, about two hours northwest of San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Ms. Maria Alves at malves@tamu.edu or 845.3367.

June 15, 2009

Texas A&M University is pleased to announce the official opening of its new Center in Mexico. Established in 1993, through the generous donation of Pablo Marvin ‘66 and his wife Barbara, the Mexico Center has opened its new doors in the Bosques de Las Lomas corporate zone of Mexico City. The opening ceremonies took place on June 15, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the Texas A&M University Center in Mexico. Honoring Pablo and Barbara Marvin and their family was a key element to the event. After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Ambassador Eric M. Bost (Ret.), Vice President for Global Initiatives at Texas A&M, presented a resolution from the Board of Regents that expresses gratitude to the Marvin family, and a plaque in their honor that will hang in the Mexico Center. A Texas A&M delegation headed Ambassador Bost was present for the formal opening and dedication of the facility along with: Ms. Leslie Bassett, Chargé d’ Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Mexico; members of the Mexico Center’s External Advisory Board; the Center´s University Advisory Committee; distinguished university leaders from partner institutions For more information about the opening ceremony of the Mexico Center click here. Click here to see photographs of the inauguration ceremony.

May 2009

May 25-July 31, 2009

Mexico Internship Program has been CANCELLED The first annual Mexico Internship Program that was scheduled for May 25-July 31, 2009 has been canceled due to swine flu in Mexico. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Marti Marberry at mmarberry@tamu.edu or Ashley Haguewood at ashleyh@ipomail.tamu.edu.

May 18-22, 2009

Faculty Abroad Seminar (Costa Rica) The 1st Faculty Abroad Seminar (FAS) will take place on May 18-22, 2009 in Costa Rica as scheduled. FAS allows tenured and tenure track faculty the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica to visit the new Center and the surrounding rainforest in order to further develop their proposed research projects; to establish contacts with colleagues at universities and institutions in Costa Rica for potential research and educational collaborations. Five Texas A&M faculty members will participate in this year’s program. For more information, please contact Ms. Maria Alves malaves@tamu.edu 845.3367.

May 17-24, 2009

The 16th annual Faculty Abroad Seminar to Mexico (FAS) that was scheduled for May 17-24, 2009, was cancelled due to the swine flu outbreak in Mexico. The FAS will be planned again for May 2010. If you have any questions regarding the FAS, please contact Ms. Edna Bishop at ebishop@tamu.edu or (979)845.3367.

April 2009

April 28-30, 2009

TAMU-CONACYT Principal Investigators Research Symposium has been POSTPONED The TAMU-CONACYT Principal Investigators Research Symposium that was scheduled to take place in Mexico City April 28-30th has been postponed. As soon as the new dates are confirmed an email will be sent to inform everyone of those dates. If you have any questions regarding the symposium please contact Ms. Edna Bishop at ebishop@tamu.edu or 845.3367.

March 2009

Tuesday, March 24, 2009: Visit of the University of El Salvador

To further the mission of the University of El Salvador (UES), the top administrators selected key U.S. universities to visit for a trade mission trip. They have selected Texas A&M University as a key university. The purpose of this trip is to build relationships with these institutions that will lead to further academic and research development through collaborations. The American Embassy is supporting and financing this trip and has committed to financing future trips and activities that will result from the relationships established during this trip. They will be on campus Tuesday, March 24, 2009 to meet with Texas A&M representatives. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Ashley Haguewood in the Office for Latin American Programs at Send e-mail or 845-3367.

Mexico Center Welcomes Ms. Ana Laura Arenas Guerrero

On February 27th, Ana started as the new Program Coordinator at the Texas A&M University Center in Mexico. She is a native of Mexico City and graduated from La Universidad de las Americas with a bachelor of arts in International Studies. For the past five years she has worked for the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office as a cultural and academic coordinator. Please join the Texas A&M University Center in Mexico and the Office of Latin American Programs in welcoming Ana to International Programs.

Mexico Internship Program Deadline Extended to April 15th

There are still two internships with the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture (SAGARPA) available through the Mexico Internship Program. The office of Economic Analysis and Planning, of the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture is seeking 2 junior/senior year students or graduate students for an internship position to start in the summer of 2009. Preferred candidates have a strong background in agricultural economics, microeconomics, econometrics or political science. The candidate will be collaborating in agricultural economic analysis, and research for key Mexican commodities. Mexican citizenship is required including Spanish language proficiency. The deadline for application has been extended to April 15th. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Marti Marberry in Career Services at Send e-mail or Ashley Haguewood in the Office for Latin American Programs at Send e-mail.

February 2009

February 27: International Student Association (ISA) organizes the International Week (I-Week).

This event is to celebrate and present the international community at Texas A&M University. More information >>

January 2009

January 9: First Group of TAMU Students Visit Costa Rican Research & Education Center (Costa Rica).

The purpose of the trip is to visit the facilities of the Costa Rican Research & Education Center.

January 19-21: Visit of CONACYT for the Proposal Review Session (TAMU).

The purpose of this visit is to review the proposals with th administrators from Texas A&M and CONACYT.

January 29-30: Trip of Dr. Niedzwecki and Dr. Malave to UNAM (Mexico City).

The purpose of the trip is to discuss the dual Ph.D. degree in Petroleum Engineering between TAMU and UNAM.

December 2009

December 19, 2008: OLAP Director goes to UNT as Associate Vice Provost.

After 20 years of working as Director of OLAP, Dr. Gabriel Carranza goes to UNT as Associate Vice Provost. Read more >>