Award-winning journalist, scholar to visit campus

A longtime award-winning journalist, columnist and scholar whose work has brought attention to First Amendment rights, human rights and indigenous peoples will visit campus in May.

Roberto Rodriguez is a UW–Madison alumnus, having received his master’s degree (’05) and doctoral degree (’08) in mass communication. He is an assistant professor in the Mexican American Studies Department at the University of Arizona.

His current field of study is the examination of maize culture, migration and the role of stories and oral traditions among Mexican and Central American peoples. He has a forthcoming book: “Centeotzintli: Sacred Maiz — a 7,000-year Ceremonial Discourse.”

His work, based on a series of interviews with Indigenous elders throughout the continent, has resulted in several documentaries, including “Amoxtli San Ce Tojuan — We Are One” (2005). He continues to write Column of the Americas, a column first syndicated by Chronicle Features in 1994, then Universal Press Syndicate and New America Media. Now, his column is written for the Guardian UK.

Rodriguez will give the keynote address at the Chican@ and Latin@ Studies Program’s spring certificate recognition and graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 15, in Room 259 of the Educational Sciences building.

Register now for first-ever International Convocation

UW faculty and staff are invited to participate in the university’s second-ever International Convocation in Madison from July 26-29. This four-day event will highlight the contributions of international alumni and lead to discussions and connections among faculty, alumni and friends with global interests.

Topic tracks and keynote speakers include:

• July 26: Challenges in Global Higher Education, John Hearn, University of Sydney and Worldwide Universities Network Researcher in animal and human fertility, stem cell biology and biotechnology.
• July 27: International Economics and Global Diplomacy, Stephen Roach ’68, Yale University and Morgan Stanley Asia. Wall Street economist and author of “The Next Asia,” the 2009 Book of the Year by China Business News, China’s equivalent of the Wall Street Journal.
• July 28-29: Global Health and its Determinants, Krishna Ella PhD’93, Bharat Biotech, India. Scientist and founder of a company that has supplied 1.5 billion affordable hepatitis vaccine doses to 65 countries.

Evening social activities include a welcome reception at the Thai Pavilion in Olbrich Botanical Gardens, a lakeshore reception on Lake Mendota and an international gala honoring WAA’s 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award winners, including Roach and Ella.

Visit uwalumni.com for a full schedule, special events information and registration.

Questions? Contact Kim Santiago.