In October, UMB hosted a delegation from the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) to strengthen the relationship between the two universities and move forward on the collaboration, which currently centers on the Alicia and YaYa Global Fellowship in Aging Research.

Honored guests included:

• Dr. Fernando Morales Martínez, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Costa Rica, Representing the UCR Rector
• Dr. Gilbert Brenes Camacho, Professor and Researcher, Central American Center of Population
• Dr. Cindy Calvo Salazar, School of Social Work Instructor at UCR
• Dr. Carolina Santamaría Ulloa, Director, Institute of Health Research (INISA)
• Ms. Yorleni Aguilar Castillo, M.Sc. , Coordinator, International Cooperation Section, UCR

One highlight of the visit was lunch with UMB leadership, including UMB President Dr. Bruce Jarrell and Dr. Roger Ward, Provost and Dean of the Graduate School. The group was also joined by the Hon. Dr. Fernando Llorca Castro, Ambassador of the Republic of Costa Rica to the United States of America, and Dr. Marco Chacón, founder of IRAZÚ Bio-holdings, whose generous support created the aging research fellowship.

Our partners from Costa Rica met with representatives from the School of Social Work; received an overview of UMB's Aging Research and Gerontology Education; toured the campus with Jim Hughes, Senior Vice President and Chief Enterprise and Economic Development Officer; made connections with UMB's global practitioners; and attended the Innovations in Global Learning event.