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The Big Picture

Leaders from the Woody L. Hunt College of Business visited Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua on June 1–2 to strengthen academic partnerships in Chihuahua, Mexico.

The visit focused on teaching, research and the role both institutions can play in preparing students for business across the U.S.-Mexico border region.

The Hunt Business delegation included:

• John Hadjimarcou, Ph.D., Rick and Ginger Francis Dean
• Fernando Jimenez, Ph.D., Associate Dean
• Eddie Wei, Ph.D., Chair of Economics and Finance
• Adam Esplin, Ph.D., Chair of Accounting and Information Systems
• Kathy Towle, Coordinator of U.S.-Mexico activities at Hunt Business

The delegation met with UACH leadership, including:

• President Luis Rivera Campos
• Cristina Cabrera, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Business Administration and Accounting
• Olinda Ornelas, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Economics

What Happened

During the two-day visit, Hunt Business and UACH leaders discussed ways to expand collaboration in the classroom and through faculty research.

Teaching opportunities included COIL-style courses, mirror courses, joint lectures and student competitions with mixed teams from both universities.

These models would allow students in El Paso and Chihuahua to learn together, compare business environments and work across institutional and national lines.

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To truly understand trade and commerce with Mexico, we must embrace the Mexican perspective. UTEP depends on strong partnerships to better understand both sides of the border.

John Hadjimarcou, Ph.D., Rick and Ginger Francis Dean

Research discussions focused on creating stronger connections among doctoral programs and expanding virtual access to brown bag sessions, seminars and faculty research presentations.

Why It Matters

As a leading business college in U.S.-Mexico trade and commerce, Hunt Business develops partnerships connecting students and faculty to the economic realities of the region.

The binational collaboration creates more ways to understand business across borders, industries and markets for students. For faculty, it opens new opportunities for shared research, doctoral engagement and academic exchange.

“To truly understand trade and commerce with Mexico, we must embrace the Mexican perspective," Hadjimarcou said. "This is not a task we can accomplish alone. UTEP depends on strong partnerships to better understand both sides of the border.”

Hunt Business and UACH leaders met in Chihuahua to expand academic collaboration tied to teaching, research and U.S.-Mexico business education.

Building Cross-Border Academic Pathways

Conversations centered on practical academic connections that can grow over time.

Joint lectures and shared course experiences can bring students into the same learning environment without requiring every collaboration to depend on travel. Research seminars and doctoral program connections can also give faculty and graduate students more regular access to work happening across both institutions.

Jimenez said the visit helped identify next steps that can move from conversation to implementation.

“The goal is to create academic connections that faculty and students can actually use,” Jimenez said. “Shared courses, joint lectures, student competitions and research seminars give us practical ways to build collaboration across the region.”