Dr. Mayra Heydrich Visits SIUE

Mayra Heydrich, coordinator of semester programs at the University of Havana, paid a visit to SIUE the week before break. During her time on campus Heydrich toured the facilities, attended lectures, and met with administrators and faculty.

“This is a great opportunity for me to come and see your facilities,” Heydrich explained, “in the near future we hope to have some students from here in the University of Havana and to send our students and faculty to your university.”

Aside from her role in coordinating exchange programs for the University of Havana Heydrich serves as a Microbiology professor and research. She is the current head of the University of Havana’s Microbial Ecology Laboratory. Part of the purpose for this visit was to assess possible research collaboration opportunities between the two universities both short and long term.

“I think it will be possible for me and for other colleagues to come here and do some kind of collaborative academic research in the future with results that we can present together,” Heydrich said.

While Heydrich was only here for a few days (February 24 -26) her itinerary was jam packed. Her meetings included: the CAS chairs, Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowie, Provost Ann Boyle, and Dean Aldemaro Romero. Heydrich toured a number of SIUE’s facilities including: the new science building, art and design building, gardens, and the laboratory for applied spatial analysis. Her presentation to the CAS chairs focused on showing many of the facilities and research opportunities available at the University of Havana and discussing possible future collaborations.

“I am very happy to have the opportunity to be here and to try to enhance the relations in the academic world and between our countries,” Heydrich shared.

Dr. Pearson giving Dr. Heydrich a tour of the LASA labs

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