History

Established in 1983 at the initiative of the Gildred Foundation and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), the Institute of the Americas is recognized as a leading institution in United States-Canada-Latin America cooperation.

Since its inception, the Institute has brought together business and government leaders and representatives of civil society in forums designed to:

    * Facilitate networking and the exchange of viewpoints
 
    * Seek ways in which public and private entities can collaborate

    * Clarify rules and regulations so private enterprise can flourish

    * Promote the development of infrastructure through
      public-private funding

    * Implement effective policies for managing economic growth in
      Latin America

The Institute is best known for its energy and technology programs. The Institute’s multi-national team also organizes executive roundtables and professional workshops as well as an active community outreach program. Because of its strategic location on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Institute places a special emphasis on Mexico while offering programs on a wide range of topics in the rest of the Western Hemisphere.

The vision for the Institute came from Theodore E. Gildred, a San Diego land developer and former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina. He collaborated with Richard Atkinson, then Chancellor of  UCSD and later president of the University of California to create an international relations center on campus.

The Institute was headed in its early years by Dr. Joseph Grunwald, an economist from the Brookings Institution. Ambassador Paul H. Boeker, a former career U.S. diplomat, was the president of the Institute until he passed away in March 2003. Jeffrey Davidow, a diplomat with a distinguished 34-year career, was named president in June 2003. Before joining the Institute, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela and Mexico and as assistant secretary of state.

The World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) have provided funding for Institute programs. U.S. and Latin American businesses now account for much of the Institute's financial support.