Next IBC Speaker Series Focuses on Trade, Lazaro Cardenas Port

The International Bank of Commerce 2006/2007 Keynote Speaker Series continues at Texas A&M International University with Dr. Leigh Boske, Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m., in the Western Hemispheric Trade Center (WHTC) 111.

This event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Boske, professor of economics and public policy at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, will lecture on the "Shifting Pacific-Rim Trade Lanes: The Mexican Port of Lazaro Cardenas, Inland Ports, and the Trans-Texas Corridor." Boske's teaching and research interests focus on transportation policy, economics and finance. His published research has been on national and international transport policy issues, the role of transportation and logistics in international trade and multimodal/intermodal transport planning.

Boske served as a senior economist at the National Transportation Policy Study Commission of the U.S. Congress and as chief of economic and environmental analysis at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. He served as policy advisor to the Texas Transportation Commission and coordinated the analysis of priority transportation issues for the Texas Transportation Plan.

He is currently a member of the National Research Council's Committee for the Review of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Strategic Plan for Research and Development, Federal Advisory Committee on Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Gulf Coast Transportation Systems and Infrastructure, Executive Committee of the U.S.-European "Transatlantic Policy Consortium," the Organization of American States' (AS) Coordinating Committee of the Inter-American Training and Research Program for Trade Corridor Development, and Intermodal Freight Transportation Committee of the Transportation Board.

The IBC 2006/2007 Keynote Speaker Series presents practical and targeted lectures imparted by distinguished leaders, recognized experts and outstanding scholars in the trade and business arenas.

The Series brings to the University individuals of exceptional accomplishment and expertise to enhance the academic experience of TAMIU students, faculty and the community.

The next speaker in the Series, Dan Griswold with "China's Impact on México and the Western Hemisphere," is scheduled for Nov. 15.

For more information, please contact Amy Palacios at the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade at 326.2820, visit offices in WHTC 221 or e-mail amy@tamiu.edu

University office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu