August 15, 2017

Dear University of Miami Community,

I am delighted to announce that Dr. María de Lourdes Dieck-Assad, a world-renowned economist who has held positions in academia, business, and government, including serving as Mexico’s ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and chief of the Mexican Mission to the European Union, has been appointed vice president for hemispheric and global affairs for the University of Miami.

Dr. Dieck-Assad, who is currently dean emeritus and distinguished professor of economics at the Graduate School of Business Administration (EGADE Business School) at the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM) in Monterrey, Mexico, begins her new post today.

In her newly created position, an action recommended in the Roadmap to Our New Century, she will promote and manage collaborations between the University and worldwide partners, with a special focus on the Americas. In terms of the Roadmap initiatives, she will directly oversee the Hemispheric University Consortium, which will advance research and education throughout the Americas, and will play a key role in the Hemispheric Innovation Hub, which will further innovation, entrepreneurship, and ventures in Miami and across the hemisphere. Dr. Dieck-Assad will identify opportunities and engage with academic institutions, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and governments where potential synergies exist.

I cannot think of anyone better qualified to take on this strategic task. Dr. Dieck-Assad is passionate about macroeconomics, working tirelessly to create cross-sector relationships among the business, government, and academic sectors, and to ensure a global perspective that will enrich the education and innovation opportunities for our national and global communities.

In the public sector, she was appointed by President Vicente Fox as ambassador of Mexico to Belgium and Luxembourg, chief of the Mexican Mission to the European Union, and permanent representative before the European Union. She was also under-secretary of Economic Affairs and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In academia, she was professor and researcher of the Economics Department (undergraduate and graduate programs) and director of the Ph.D. Program in Management at ITESM. She was professor and chair of the Economics Department at Trinity University in Washington, D.C., and economics professor at Anahuac University in Mexico City. Her extensive experience in academic administration has included several leadership positions at ITESM, one of the top-ranked universities in Latin America. She has served as dean of EGADE Business School, dean of the School of Government, Social Sciences and Humanities, dean of the School of Public Policy, and director of the Santa Fe Campus in Mexico City.

She received her B.A. degree from ITESM, her M.A. degree from Vanderbilt University (on a Fulbright Scholarship), and her Ph.D. from University of Texas at Austin, all in economics.

A member of several national and international boards and a consultant for national and international organizations such as the World Bank, Dr. Dieck-Assad has served on the World Economic Forum task force for the study of competitiveness and productivity challenges for Latin America. She is a prolific author, publishing extensively on economics and political economic topics.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Dieck-Assad to the University of Miami family.