The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

Media contact: Susan McKinsey, 277-1807
Dorene DiNaro, 277-5299

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 16, 2009

UNM ENTERS HISTORIC COLLABORATION WITH EX-MEXICAN PRESIDENT FOX
To Give Spring Commencement Address, Conduct Weeklong Series of Lectures and Roundtables;
“Vicente Fox Chair in Democracy and Development for Latin America” Envisioned

SAN CRISTOBAL, GUANAJUATO, MEXICO – On February 13, 2009, UNM President David Schmidly and former Mexican President Vicente Fox signed an agreement that will enable UNM graduate students, faculty and researchers to participate in collaborative cultural, educational and research exchanges with scholars at Fox’s newly established Centro Fox and which will lead to the creation of a “Vicente Fox Chair in Democracy and Development for Latin America.”

The two also announced that Fox has agreed to serve as UNM’s Spring Commencement speaker this May, and will return to UNM in September for a weeklong series of lectures and roundtable discussions.

“This is the beginning of a collaboration that will strengthen the bridges of understanding between our two countries,” said former President Fox in signing the agreement. “It will join Centro Fox and the University of New Mexico in a way that will see the free exchange of students, faculty, researchers, public administrators and elected officials from both nations.”

“There are no two better places for this groundbreaking collaboration than Centro Fox and the University of New Mexico,” observed President Schmidly. “UNM is building a strong reputation as a place where Hispanic life and culture is celebrated and where Hispanic students can thrive. Centro Fox is the state-of-the-art facility that President Fox has designed to train the next generation of leaders to study, debate and research the history of democracy in Mexico.”

“By his new close association with UNM, President Fox is carrying on his bold and historic vision of bilateral friendship, understanding and trade,” Schmidly added.

In addition to creation of the Vincente Fox Chair in Democracy and Development for Latin America, the agreement calls for collaborative programs between UNM and Centro Fox including a Mentoring Program in Leadership Development.

Besides serving as the keynote speaker for UNM’s Spring Commencement on May 16, the former President will return to UNM in September for a weeklong series of lectures and panel discussions as well as meetings with UNM faculty, students and alumni.

The February 13 agreement follows meetings last December between President Schmidly and former President Fox and culminates two months of discussions between the University and Centro Fox.

Centro Fox, which contains the first Presidential Library in all of Latin America, was established to conduct studies of economics, human and social development, politics, public administration and foreign affairs. The Center’s four strategic units include an Analysis and Research Institute, an Educational and Consultant Center, an Informative and Documentation Center and a Cultural Museum.

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