The Latin American Board Travels to Mexico for IAW 2018
From October 11th through October 14th, 2018, Georgetown University hosted its third International Alumni Weekend (IAW) in Mexico City, which welcomed more than 300 international alumni and featured high-level speakers in engaging conversations around topics of current interest for Latin American and Mexican alumni.
To commemorate this first IAW in the region, Georgetown University’s Latin American Board traveled to Mexico to hold its biannual meeting and participate in the various weekend activities. Bill Doyle, Chairman of Georgetown University's Board of Directors was a special guest at this meeting.
IAW 2018 Opening reception on October 11th at the Hyatt Regency featured Former Mexican President, Felipe Calderon (December 1, 2006 – November 30, 2012), who discussed some of the challenges and solutions implemented during his administration and his views on what lays ahead.
IAW provides a platform for international alumni to reconnect with faculty and other alumni around social, intellectual, and cultural programming. Previous editions took place in Doha (2013) and Hong Kong (2015). International Alumni Weekend 2018 panels included:
Session 1: Mexico-US Immigration. Past, Present, and Future. MODERATED BY AGUSTÍN BARRIOS GÓMEZ, FORMER DEPUTY OF THE LXII LEGISLATURE OF THE MEXICAN CONGRESS
Session 2: Social Enterprise: A Tool for Reaching Sustainable Development Goals. MODERATED BY GAEL O'SULLIVAN, PROJECT DIRECTOR OF THE GLOBAL SMART DRINKING GOALS PROGRAM AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY.
Session 3: NAFTA and the Future of Trade in the Americas. MODERATED BY ALVARO SANTOS, PROFESSOR OF LAW AND DIRECTOR OF GEORGETOWN'S CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE RULE OF LAW IN THE AMERICAS (CAROLA).
Session 4: Elections in Latin America and the US: Populism and Global Forces at Play. MODERATED BY MO ELLEITHEE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GU POLITICS AT GEORGETOWN'S MCCOURT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
Session 5: The Role of the Jesuits in Transforming Latin American Education and Societies. MODERATED BY REV. MATTHEW CARNES, S.J., DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES AT GEORGETOWN'S WALSH SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE
Session 6: The Future of Global Cities: Innovative Technologies and Partnerships. MODERATED BY UWE S. BRANDES, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE AND FACULTY DIRECTOR, URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING, GEORGETOWN SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES.
IAW 2018 guests were able to visit important cultural landmarks around the city, such as Tenochtitlán in the lively Downtown neighborhood, and other archaeological sites and architectural remains. Other events included visits to the National Palace, Museo Soumaya, and an excursion to Teotihuacán Pyramids.