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What is Comexus?
The
United States-Mexico Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange,
COMEXUS, was founded on November 27, 1990, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, by
means of the signing of a bilateral agreement, signed before the presidents
of both countries. In May 2000, the agreement was extended for 10 more years
through the exchange of diplomatic notes between both governments. Under an
agreement by the Board of Directors in January of 1992, all the Commission’s
scholarship programs financed by both governments from this date on were to
be henceforth named “Fulbright-García Robles,” thus incorporating the
surnames of Mexican Ambassador Emeritus and Nobel Peace prize winner,
Alfonso García Robles.
The goal of the Commission consists of promoting mutual understanding
between Mexico and the United States by means of educational and cultural
exchanges. In order to achieve this goal, COMEXUS offers distinct
scholarship programs for students, researchers, university professors,
public school teachers and administrators, and professionals of both
countries.
The Board of Directors of the Commission is made up of five Mexicans and
five United States’ citizens. Two persons from these groups are public
servants, and the remainder are representatives of the private sector and
academia. The members representing the United States are designated by the
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. The Mexican members are designated by the
Secretary of Foreign Affairs. The Board of Directors shares a Co-Chairperson
from Mexico and the United States, and has three separate Committees; one
academic, one administrative, and one for fundraising.
The Commission has an Executive Office in charge of providing information to
the board for decision-making purposes and putting these decisions into
action. The Executive Director, in close coordination with the Board,
undertakes the strategic planning of COMEXUS. The Executive Director is
supported by a Program Director and a team or 12 permanent staff with
additional temporary staff contracted for specific programs and projects.
The Executive Director is responsible for the publication of grant
announcements and the results of the scholarship programs. He works with the
Selection Committee made up of Mexican university professors, for the
selection of scholarship recipients, as well as administering the resources
provided by both governments and donations made by corporate entities and
individuals.
Since the founding of the Commission in 1990, including new annual grants,
renewals and summer programs, a total of 4,800 scholarships have been
awarded to citizens of both countries. |
