Welcome Reception for PUCE delegation set for April 4

Ohio University (OHIO) will welcome a delegation from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE) to campus from April 1-8.

The delegation, which will be led by Rector Dr. Fernando Ponce León, S.J., will take part in a wide range of events while at OHIO.

One main event will be the Welcome Reception from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 .m. on Wednesday, April 4 in the Baker University Center Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room 219. This event, which is open to the public, will include remarks from Dr. Ponce, OHIO President Dr. M. Duane Nellis and OHIO Professor Dr. Mario Grijalva, who also serves as the director of the Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute and has played a key role in the collaboration between the two institutions.

The Welcome Reception will also feature discussions on the current areas of collaboration between PUCE and OHIO, as well as the potential for future initiatives. Anyone interested in learning more about the collaboration between the two institutions is encouraged to attend.

The partnership between OHIO and PUCE was first established in 2000 through a joint research project investigating Chagas Disease. Today, the partnership involves several academic areas at each institution and provides numerous benefits for students and faculty at OHIO and PUCE. More than 600 OHIO students have participated in study away programs in Ecuador thanks to the collaboration between the two institutions.

During the visit to OHIO, the PUCE officials will be holding a series of meetings with faculty, staff and students in order to discuss how the partnership may continue to grow. In addition, the PUCE representatives will be visiting the International Street Fair and touring Appalachian Ohio communities.

The PUCE delegation members will include:

• Rector Dr. Fernando Ponce León, S.J
• Provost Dr. Graciela Monesterolo Lencioni
• College of Medicine Dean Dr. Francisco Pérez Pazmiño
• College of Communication, Linguistics and Literature Dean Dr. César Eduardo Carrión
• Linguistics Professor and Researcher Dr. Marleen Haboud

For additional information on the Welcome Reception or on the PUCE visit to OHIO, please contact the Office of Global Affairs at globalaffairs@ohio.edu.