Texas State President, Mexican Officials Strengthen Partnerships

“Mexico’s higher education and cultural institutions are natural partners for Texas State University not just because of their proximity, but because of the rich context these institutions can provide in academic and research settings…”

San Marcos – Texas State University President Denise M. Trauth led a delegation to Mexico City, meeting with Mexican government and academic officials, U.S. Embassy representatives and leaders of major cultural institutions to reaffirm strategic partnerships and build relationships to establish new ones.

The three-day trip supports the university’s goal of raising Texas State’s national research profile by expanding current research programs through academic and industrial collaborations with institutions and corporations in Mexico.

“Mexico’s higher education and cultural institutions are natural partners for Texas State University not just because of their proximity, but because of the rich context these institutions can provide in academic and research settings,” Trauth said. “Strengthening our partnerships with these institutions – and forging new ones throughout Mexico – articulates an international vision of building research opportunities and enriching the educational experience for students and faculty at Texas State.”

Trauth met with high-level federal government officials, including Javier Treviño, undersecretary for basic education; Dr. Silvia Giorguli, president of the Colegio de Mexico, considered among Mexico’s top academic institutions; William Duncan, deputy chief of mission of the U.S. Embassy; Hazel Blackmore, executive director of the Mexico-U.S. Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (COMEXUS); and Dr. Guillermo Hernandez, director of partnerships for Mexico’s National Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education.

The partnerships will expand Texas State’s research capabilities in several areas such as water and the environment; food safety and nutrition; public safety; and cybersecurity. Additionally, the partnerships will help draw externally funded research dollars and attract top-notch faculty and students, bolstering the university’s reputation for undergraduate and graduate education.

Accompanying Trauth were various Texas State officials, including Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Eugene Bourgeois; Vice President for University Advancement Barbara Breier, Director of the Wittliff Collections David Coleman; and Texas State University Development Foundation Chair and partner of strategic advisory firm Vianovo James S. Taylor. Also attending was Greater San Marcos Partnership President Adriana Cruz.

“Texas State University’s strong academic reputation and its multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to research are essential in building successful partnerships with universities and businesses,” Taylor said. “We see tremendous opportunities to grow our institutional relationships and together make a difference in our region and Mexico.”

In addition to the meetings with government, academic and cultural leaders, Trauth also hosted a reception with Texas State alumni in Mexico and presented a charter establishing the first international chapter of the Texas State Alumni Association.

The charter was presented to inaugural chapter co-leaders Ramiro Velasco and Fernando Calderon. More than 90 Texas State alumni live in and around Mexico City, and roughly 45 attended the alumni event.