Border Issues
 |
Dr. Irasema Coronado, seated center, at the opening
of Lineae Terrarum: International Border Conference,
March 2006. |
Dr. Irasema Coronado, associate professor
of political science at the University of Texas in El Paso, has published
in the fields of women in politics and social justice at the Mexico-
US border, and researches cross-border cooperation at the local
government level. She provided a comparative perspective at the 2003
Fulbright German Studies seminar on Challenges of Demographics,
and during 2004-2005, taught and researched at the Universidad
Autonoma de Ciudad
Juarez as part of the
Fulbright Border
Program.
"I started my research
project at a time when
both Ciudad Juarez and
the state of Chihuahua
were having elections.
Therefore, as a political
scientist, my project could
not have taken place at
a more opportune time.
I was able to gather
data on the previous
administrations at both
levels of government,
follow the elections and
then observe as new city
council members, mayor,
governor and cabinet
members were taking
office."
Dr. Coronado compiled
an extensive compendium of resumes of elected and appointed officials,
and analyzed the educational, labor and political trajectories of those in
power. A content analysis of major newspapers was also useful for her
analysis of formal and informal power holders. This research will form
the nucleus of her next book.
 |
Dr. Irasema Coronado, far left , enjoys the company of Mexico’s Fulbright family. |
"My work has been greatly enhanced and facilitated because my colleagues
are genuinely interested in my research. They have provided invaluable
theoretical and methodological insights that have greatly increased the
quality of my work."
Dr. Coronado taught a graduate-level course on theories of the state
in the fall, bringing insight from several American political theorists
and contemporary examples from the United States. In the spring,
she enjoyed the opportunity to co-teach a graduate course in public
policy with a Mexican colleague, and organized a one-day workshop
on American Government for interested students and community
members in Ciudad Juarez. She served as the external reader for a
Ph.D. dissertation
and on three master’s
theses committees. Her
students were working
on a variety of topics,
including violence
against women, the
role of political parties,
and a public policy
analysis/evaluation of an
economic development
program targeted to
women.
"Working with the
students has been very
rewarding, as well as
insightful into some of the
issues that Ciudad Juarez
is facing."
 |
Reunión de Medio Término Mzo |
Irasema Coronado
found her colleagues
at the Universidad
Autonoma very
welcoming. She
participated actively in faculty meetings on curricular matters, student
evaluations and issues related to balancing the teaching, research and
service roles of faculty members.
“One of the most interesting meetings I attended was when we formally
evaluated the master’s-level students. We worked to identify their strengths
and weaknesses, and wrote suggestions that would encourage the students
to continue working and help them overcome obstacles in their academic
careers. It was a unique experience and I shared it with my colleagues in
the U.S. as an example of a ‘best practice’ that we could possibly adopt in
the future.”
Since her return, Coronado has collaborated with several colleagues
from the Universidad Autonoma and other universities in the region to
organize an international conference on border issues, which took place
in both Ciudad Juarez and El Paso in March 2006.
“In sum, this Border Fulbright experience has been rewarding personally
and academically. I am sure that we will continue to have a fruitful
working relationship.“
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| "International education
exchange is the most significant current project
designed to continue the process of humanizing
mankind to the point, we would hope, that
nations can learn to live in peace"
--J. William Fulbright |
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