Montemorelos University: Castillo continues as the Adventist institution’s president

May 16, 2011 – Miami, Florida, United States…Raúl Lozano/IAD Staff

Montemorelos University, an institution operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Inter-American Division (IAD), experienced significant advances from 2006 to 2011. The report came as Dr. Ismael Castillo was reinstated as the institution’s president during a board meeting held in Miami, Florida, yesterday. Dr. Castillo highlighted the most significant accomplishments of the institution during the quinquennium from the perspective of both short-range and long-range goals.

Short-range goals were organized into four engines: the vision engine, which has to do with activities related to missions; the entrepreneurial spirit engine, which has to do with stewardship activities; the quality engine, which has to do with commitment to quality in service; and the compassion and service engine, which has to do with fellowship and kindness inside and outside of campus.

Long-range goals were described with what Castillo called Vision 20/20. “This Vision 20/20 points to the global evangelization of the world through the Inter-American youth in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ,” said Castillo.

“An outstanding accomplishment in this quinquennium is the new curriculum,” he added. “This is one of our most important accomplishments because it contains a great diversity of learning experiences that are part of the curriculum from now on.”

According to the report, 68.2% of the goals were met during the five-year period. Since some goals were very ambitious in their scope, said Castillo, they will carry over for the coming years. “It is good that we have more challenges than accomplishments.”

Board members approved the strategic plan for the next five years as well as the recommendations made by accrediting agencies regarding the institution.

As the report concluded, the Montemorelos University’s administrative team for the new five-year period was elected. Dr. Castillo remained as president for the next five years, a position he has held since 1987.

“The job of the nominating committee was done quickly,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America and chairman of the nominating committee. “There is no need for a change [in leadership],” he added.

Also voted into their previous posts were Raquel Korniejczuk in charge of academic affairs, Joel Sebastian for financial affairs, and Ekel Collins for student affairs. Pending to vote in will be the academic affairs position previously held by Ruben Meza who will be retiring soon.

Montemorelos University is an Adventist institution accredited by the Adventist Accrediting Association and the second of three Adventist universities worldwide which grants degrees in medicine in addition to Loma Linda University in the United States and Universidad Adventista del Plata in Argentina. Located in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and established in 1942, Montemorelos University offers dozens of undergraduate and graduate degrees to thousands of students every year.

For more information on Montemorelos University and its programs, visit www.um.edu.mx