programs

CEPAS

In Spanish, Cepas means roots, origin or stock. Our Cepas program touches on the origins of Latin American life. C is for culture, E for economy, P for politics,
A for art, and S for sciences. Through these five areas, we offer our culturally-rich community the best of border life.
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ENERGY

Led by our energy expert, Jeremy Martin , this program is recognized as one of the oldest energy policy initiatives in the Western Hemisphere.
In a region confronted
with ever more complex energy issues, the program examines the geopolitics of energy -- security, integration and investment. Through a series of meetings and conferences that bring together industry analysts, business leaders and policy makers, the Institute offers comprehensive analysis of public policy on oil, electricity, LNG and natural gas.
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ICT

As the region strives to stay in touch, our Information and Communication Technology programs bring together experts on subjects ranging from technology trends to e-Government to discuss sustainable policies that promote socio-economic and business opportunities. Our seminars look at industry convergence and regulatory frameworks as well as the development of home-grown technologies and human capital.
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Project Mexico

From our strategic location at the U.S.-Mexico border, we analyze, discuss and debate Mexico’s economic, social and political development. Under the leadership of Institute President Jeffrey Davidow, Mexican and U.S. policy makers, academics, journalists and students meet for workshops on public health issues, migration, job creation, municipal finance and environmental issues.
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Professional
Workshops

Migration. Poverty. HIV/AIDS and public health. Latino voters and the U.S. presidential election. U.S. and Latin American experts will share their views on these critical social and political issues throughout the year. We encourage reporters, policy makers, government representatives, teachers and students to join us for these comprehensive training programs on the region’s economic and social challenges.
For journalists, we offer the prestigious Jack F. Ealy Science Journalism workshop.
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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-Latin American 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.

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