Dear Members of the ISI Community,

      I write to introduce myself as the new Director of the International Studies Institute (ISI) at the University of New Mexico. I officially assume this role on July 1 and am eager to engage with the faculty, staff, and partners who make this institute such a vital part of the university.

      This transition is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the exceptional contributions of Dr. Stephen Bishop, who has served as Director of ISI for the past eight years. His leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to international studies have profoundly shaped the institute, and the entire ISI community owes him a tremendous debt of gratitude. I want to congratulate Dr. Bishop on his appointment as Associate Dean of Humanities in the College of Arts & Sciences and wish him great success in that role.

      I am also pleased to announce two important additions to the ISI team. Carol Anda recently joined us as Department Administrator, and we warmly welcome her to the institute. We are equally pleased to welcome Dr. Diego Bustos as Associate Director beginning this August. Dr. Bustos holds a PhD (Spanish & Portuguese) from the University of New Mexico and brings valuable faculty experience from Rockford University. His scholarship, extensive teaching experience, and familiarity with UNM make him an excellent fit for this role.

      I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming months and to continuing the important work of the International Studies Institute. In the meantime, please visit our new ISI Facebook page if you use that platform!

      Ronda Brulotte

      Director, International Studies Institute