Castañeda will speak Wednesday, October 10 at 7 p.m. in the Lecture Hall of the Science, Engineering and Technology Building.

“Mr. Castañeda has an “intimate knowledge of the US-Mexico relationship and it's economic, social and political implications for both nations,” said UTB Development Board Chairman Eduardo Rodriguez. “I am extremely happy that he will be our speaker this year as the issues he discusses will play an important role in the U.S. Presidential elections next year.”

In 2000, then President Vicente Fox appointed Castañeda as his Foreign Minister During his tenure, he focused on diverse issues in U.S.-Mexican relations including migration, trade, security, and narcotics control; joint diplomatic initiatives on the part of Latin American nations; and the promotion of Mexican economic and trade relations globally.

Since 1997, Castañeda has been the Global Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Latin American Studies at New York University. He has also taught at Mexico's National Autonomous University, Princeton and Berkeley. 

Castañeda was a Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and was a recipient of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research and Writing Grant. He is a member of the Board of Human Rights Watch since 2003, he hosted “Voices of Latin American Leaders” at NYU, a series of conversations with prominent politicians, intellectuals and business people. 

Among his many books are Utopia Unarmed: The Latin American Left after the Cold War, The Mexican Shock, Compañero: The Life and Death of Che Guevara and Perpetuating Power: How Mexican Presidents Were Chosen. 

Born in Mexico City in 1953, Castañeda earned a Ph. D. in Economic History from the University of Paris. He received undergraduate degrees from both Princeton University and from Universite de Paris-I (Pantheon-Sorbonne). His masters’ degree is from The Ecole Pratique de Hautes. Etudes in Paris. 

The Distinguished Lecture Series is an important fundraiser for UTB/TSC, providing support for student and faculty trips, research and projects for which state funding are not available.

Continuing it's long history of partnership with the university, Valley Regional Medical Center has agreed to be a title sponsor for the popular annual event and Valley Baptist has again committed to sponsoring the Student Lecture and Essay Contest, which will give hundreds of Valley students the opportunity to hear Castañeda in a lecture series of their own, and to participate in an essay contest on a related topic.  

This year’s essay topic, “How I would solve Mexico and USA border issues in the Rio Grande Valley,” The deadline to submit essays is Monday, October 1.

“Each of our speakers over the years has been among the best in the world at what they have accomplished,” said DLS committee chairwoman Gerry Fleuriet. “We look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence.”

There is limited seating and advance ticket purchase is recommended. Individual sponsor tickets are $250 per person and include a VIP reception with Castañeda before the lecture, preferred parking and seating and a gala reception afterwards.

General admission tickets are $150 per person and include the gala reception.