The University of Tulsa announced a global partnership with Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí (UASLP) in Mexico, located in a sister city of Tulsa. UASLP launched the partnership with TU as a signature event during its centennial celebration of autonomy this week.
Founded in 1693, UASLP became the first university in Mexico to receive autonomous status in 1923. A comprehensive public research institution with 11 campuses across the state of San Luis Potosí, the university has a national reputation for its ABET-accredited engineering and medical programs, as well as being well known for strengths in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
This newly launched partnership will benefit students, faculty and staff from both institutions and strengthens ties between Tulsa and San Luis Potosí as sister cities.
“I am very excited about this partnership as it deepens a long-standing relationship between Tulsa and San Luis Potosí,” said TU President Brad R. Carson. “San Luis Potosí is a vibrant city with a terrific university, and I look forward to exchanges of students and faculty.”
The connection between Tulsa and San Luis Potosí originated from a friendship between former U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and Mr. Jesús Gonzales Urizza from SLP when they were TU students in the 1950s. Gonzales later became the water commissioner of San Luis Potosí and Inhofe served as the mayor of Tulsa leading to an official connection between the two towns in 1980. Today, the sister cities program, managed by Tulsa Global Alliance, has expanded in both communities, including programs that foster economic trade, sporting events and educational and cultural activities.
The University of Tulsa delegation – Jennifer Airey, vice provost and dean of the graduate school; Vivian Wang, vice provost for global engagement; and Bruce Willis, professor of Spanish and comparative literature – had productive discussions with UASLP leadership about student mobility programs, potential joint graduate programs, research collaborations and faculty exchange opportunities. They also visited the local industry and business community and identified internship opportunities for TU students, particularly for students in the international business and language and international engineering and language dual degree programs.
During the visit, TU officials presented several gifts to city officials in the San Luis Potosí mayor’s office, including a book about Tulsa’s art deco architecture prepared by the Tulsa Global Alliance, bison statues donated by Gilcrease Museum and a Lucite map of Tulsa, which was designed and printed by a TU student.
For additional information about The University of Tulsa’s global programs, visit global.utulsa.edu.