The Governing Board of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)the largest Latin America, announced this Thursday the appointment of Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas as the new rector of the institution for the period 2023-2027.
It’s a statement, The UNAM Governing Board reported that it reached an agreement after a “vast examination of the university community that began on August 21 and lasted until November 3.”
He added that in that period “he learned in a broad and inclusive manner the points of view of all university sectors and of people and organizations interested in this process.”
He specified that with the exercise, “the main challenges that UNAM currently faces and the needs for change that the person appointed to occupy the Rectorate must address were identified.
Meanwhile, the president of the Board, Gina Zabludovsky, indicated that the organization analyzed the career of each candidate, their work projects, the informed opinion of the community and their performance in the interview.
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Furthermore, “he carefully considered the quality, relevance and viability of the project, the defense of autonomy, academic and research freedom and the social commitment of the University.”
In his first statements, The new rector said that “there is a willingness to dialogue on the part of the Mexican Government and at UNAM there is space for dialogue.”
He said that “Mexico has to give greater support to education, science, technology and culture in general” and reiterated the institution’s willingness to support beneficial initiatives for the country.
The appointment of Lomelí Vanegas occurs prior to an electoral process to elect president in 2024 and at a time when criticism from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has intensified against the institution.
Before Lomelí Vanegas, the last three rectors of UNAM were Juan Ramón de la Fuente (1999-2007), José Narro Robles (2007-2015) and Enrique Graue (2015-2023).
The extensive career of Lomelí Vanegas
The new rector of UNAM has a degree in Economics from the UNAM Faculty of Economics and a master’s degree and doctorate in History from the same University. In all three exams she obtained the corresponding honorable mention.
Besides, He received the Alfonso Caso Medal as the most outstanding graduate of the Master’s Degree in History in 2002.
In 2006 it was awarded the National University Distinction for Young Academics in the Area of Teaching in Economic-Administrative Sciences and in 2009 the same recognition, now in the Area of Research in Economic-Administrative Sciences.
In addition, he has taught uninterruptedly at the UNAM Faculty of Economics since 1994. He has been a full-time professor at the Faculty of Economics since November 1, 2002 and is currently a permanent full-time professor B of said Faculty. .
Lomelí Vanegas belongs to the National System of Researchers (SNI) with the category of national researcher level II and is also a full member of the Mexican Academy of Political Economy, a member of the Mexican Association of Economic History and the Mexican Academy of Sciences.
In addition, he has given 63 conferences and participated in numerous round tables in various Mexican institutions.
He has attended International Congresses in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Spain and Uruguay and given conferences at the Universities of Santiago de Compostela, the Autonomous University of Madrid and Malaga, as well as the Ortega y Gasset University Institute, in Spain.
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