DASNR
International
Student of the Week
Home Country: Mexico
The United Mexican States is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bounded on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the North Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico. The United Mexican States comprise a federation of thirty-one states and a federal district, the capital Mexico City, which is one of the world's most populous cities.
Covering almost 2 million square kilometers, Mexico is the fifth-largest country in the Americas by total area and the 14th largest in the world. With an estimated population of 109 million, it is the 11th most populous country and the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world.
As a regional power and the only Latin American member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) since 1994, Mexico is firmly established as an upper middle-income country.
Mexico is the 12th largest economy in the world by gross domestic product (GDP), on par with countries like Canada and Spain, even though income inequality is still high. The economy is strongly linked to those of its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners. Elections held in July 2000 marked the first time that an opposition party won the presidency from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional: PRI) which had held it since 1929, culminating the political alternation at the federal level, which had begun at the local level during the 1980s.
Agriculture's contribution to GDP fell from 15.1% in 1960 to 10.7% in 1970 and 4% in 2001—yet agriculture employs about 22% of the labor force. Only about 13% of Mexico's total land area is suitable for cultivation, and only 6% is cultivated with permanent crops; over 6.5 million hectares (16 million acres) are irrigated.
In 1960, Mexico became self-sufficient for the first time in corn; it continues to be self-sufficient in beans, rice, sugar, and most fruits and vegetables and fluctuates between being either a net importer or self-sufficient with wheat and corn. The government continues to protect agriculture and to ensure domestic consumption through import and export duties and controls. The government supports the prices of corn, wheat, beans, and fresh eggs and then sells these and other farm products at minimal prices through retail stores operated by the National Corporation for Public Subsidies.
Nancy, Laura, Edith and Angelica
February 12 , 2008
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From the Department of Agricultural Economics
This week’s international student of the week is a group of four visiting students from Mexico. They all are Master Students in Agricultural Economic in the University of Chapingo, Mexico. They will stay in OSU for 3 months; they came in January 14, 2008. They are here as short term scholars to complete their research as a requirement for graduation.
Edith Emerald Monroy Miranda is a second year Masters she speaks Spanish and English. She likes to go out to the movies, go for coffee with friends and dancing on Fridays. She is doing her research in urbanization and its impact on the agriculture. She chose OSU because Ag. Economics program has some affinity with the program in Chapingo, and also because the Faculty in OSU is very well known at the international level. Edith's future plan is to pursue a PhD in Ag, Economics and Natural Resources in OSU. Edith comes from a family of 4 children; she is the oldest of 3 girls and 1 boy. Her father owns a bakery in Mexico and her mother is a housewife. She has a nephew who is the son of one of her sisters. Edith loves to go to different places and make new friends, she also collects postcards, and her favorite place is the beach. Edith’s advice for students “It is important for students to have exchange programs with other universities in other countries, it is an exiting experience. It is very important no to fall in the struggle for what is wish, but it is also important to bear in mind a goal and focus all our energy to achieve this.” Adviser name: Dr. Mike Dicks
Laura Carolina Pedraza Robles is also a second year Masters student. She speaks Spanish, English, and French. In her free time Laura likes to hangout with friends, go to the movies and travel. She loves to cook for her family and friends. Laura loves to travel, every time she has days off she will go to visit some places around Mexico, she particularly likes the states of Veracruz, Jalisco, Michoacan, and Zacatecas. She chose OSU because she was last summer here on a field trip and she liked the school, she also wanted to learn more about economics teaching in the states. Laura’s future plan is to enroll for a PhD in Agricultural Economics or in Business. Laura comes from a family of two children; she has a brother who attends the Mexican Autonomous National University (UNAM) to obtain a bachelor degree in Public Management. Both of her parents teach at the Chapingo University, her mother teaches English in the Chapingo high school and her father teaches forest management for undergraduates and graduates. Laura’s advice for students: "Do not be afraid of meeting new people and new places, it will be a great experience.” Advisor: Dr. Shida Henneberry
Angélica Serrano Páez is our 3dr student from Chapingo. She is also second year Masters Student. She speaks Spanish, English, and French. She is member of the Christian Familiar Center A.C, All Sport Aquatics Mexico, and Community of Faith Fellowship. In her free time Angélica likes to swim, run, and walk. She came to OSU in 2002 for a summer program, now she is in a short term scholar program to work in her Masters thesis. She chose OSU because of the exchange program with Chapingo. Angélica's future plan is to pursue a PhD in Ag. Economics at OSU. Angélica comes from a family of three children, she has two youngest brothers, one is 20 years old and is a zoo-technical student, the other is 15 years old and he is in high school. Angélica’s father is forestry engineering and her mother is a parasitological engineering. Angélica advice for students: “Do not miss the opportunity of being in another country; the experience of meeting new people and changing routine as the academic experience is incomparable to other. Be patient if the process demands time and effort; do not give up.” Advisor Name: Dr. Derrell Peel
Nancy Vianey Cruz Cruz is a second year Masters student from Chapingo. She speaks Spanish and English. Nancy is a member of Gilgal Christian Church in Texcoco, Mexico and Christian Fellowship CFF in Stillwater. Nancy is a co-founder of two youth groups in Mexico, this groups aim to study the bible and also to talk about daily problems and try to find solutions for them. In her free time Nancy loves to read novels, the bible, papers, and watch movies. Nancy came to OSU because of the exchange program with Chapingo, she is really happy of having this opportunity. Nancy’s future plans are to finish her Masters thesis, after that she is planning to work and prepare all the tests needed to apply for PhD. Nancy comes from a family of five children two of her brothers are Masters from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, mechanical design and international relations respectively. Her father is a farmer and he practices Charreria, a National Sport of Mexico. Her mother is a housewife. Nancy parents live in the state of Hidalgo. Nancy ’s advice for students: “Be very brave and do not allow yourself to intimidate by the circumstances, the only one limit for your dreams is heaven.” Advisor Name: Dr. Michael Dicks in OSU and Dr, Jose Antonio Davila in Chapingo. Interview by Sandra Rodriguez
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