UTEP Hosts National Border Security Conference Today, Friday

Experts from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) are among the speakers who will share their insight regarding border security, health care, trade and commerce, drug demand reduction, and economic development during the seventh annual Border Security Conference: Re-Envisioning the Border Community to Foster a U.S.-Mexico Partnership for Prosperity, Progress, and Socio-Economic Development, today and Friday at the Undergraduate Learning Center, room 106, on the UTEP campus. Read the conference agenda here. Find parking information here.

UTEP Experts and Panels: Josie Tinajero, Ph.D., dean, UTEP College of Education Human Capital Development: Building on Innovation and Entrepreneurship The College of Education?s binational cooperation efforts are putting in place socioeconomic development initiatives to address the educational needs of young people on both sides of the border. Through major funding from USAID?the Agency for International Development, UTEP is partnering with Universidad Autnoma de Ciudad Jurez and other educational agencies.

Ricardo Blzquez, executive director, Center for Inter-American and Border Studies Creating Prosperity: Building a 21st Century Border The Center for Inter-American and Border Studies conducts and facilitates research on matters related to the U.S.-Mexico border, Mexico and inter-American issues. Blazquez will emphasize market development and national institutional dynamics. He will discuss binational initiatives that foster sustainability and the need to address the looming issues of poverty and the economic and social marginalization that impact much of the region. Blzquez has more than 25 years of experience in industry, and more than 15 years of experience as an executive with General Motors.

Eva Moya, Ph.D., assistant professor, UTEP College of Health Sciences Binational Health: Health Care as an Economic Driver The presentation will focus on the need to integrate the discussion of border health care as a driver for prosperity with a focus on health and social justice. Health care is a critical determinant of health; social, economic, environmental and behavioral factors also are major contributors to the border public’s health, particularly with regard to preventable diseases and conditions.

Robert Nachtmann, Ph.D., dean, UTEP College of Business Administration Economic Opportunity: Capitalizing on the Region?s Competitive Advantage Nachtmann also serves as a professor of finance in UTEP?s College of Business Administration. He is a member of the American Finance Association, Decision Sciences Institute, Financial Management Association, Financial Executives Institute and the International Association of Financial Engineers. He also serves as a consultant in the areas of security and business valuation supporting litigation, due diligence efforts, and business development activities of law and banking firms.

Joe Heyman, Ph.D., chair, UTEP Department of Sociology and Anthropology Reducing Demand on Consumption of Narcotics Heyman has studied both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border for the past 28 years. His research has examined how the border crossing system might be affected by large-scale extreme events. He advocates redirecting immigration to legal and open paths, rethinking drug policies to reduce usage and harm, and concentrating on actual threats of violent crime and terrorism. Community security and human rights are important goals of border policies.

Kathleen Staudt, Ph.D., political science professor, UTEP College of Liberal Arts Enacting Reforms: Strengthening the Legitimacy, Authority and Effectiveness of Institutions As a solution to the crisis in Jurez, Mexico, Staudt will take a binational perspective to address lawenforcement institutions, militarized solutionsand extensive human rights complaints. She urges that democratic institutions be strengthened, including those in the U.S., in areas she considers ?costly failures? associated with the war on drugs. Staudt will challenge those who manage economic and business institutions to pay living wages to the majority of workers in northern Mexico. Staudt has published 13 books, five of which focus on the U.S.-Mexico border.

UTEP will host the Border Security Conference in collaboration with the Office of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This year?s conference will feature eight expert panels.

Other speakers include: Reyes, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske; Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin; U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual; Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan; and other top government, business and nonprofit leaders.

Several hundred leaders from the public and private sectors in both countries are expected to convene for the annual event, which provides a forum for the exploration of the best methods of safeguarding a common border while continuing to foster the human and economic development in both nations.

The event is free and open to the public. Prior registration is encouraged. To register or view the agenda, visit http://ia.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=64677.