Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 10/29/99
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   1

Editors: Photo accompanies release
COSTA RICAN VICE PRESIDENT VISITS SOUTHEASTERN NOV.  8
     HAMMOND -- Costa Rican Vice President Dr. Astrid Fischel will visit Southeastern
Louisiana University November 8-9 to explore academic and cultural exchanges and other
initiatives between Southeastern and Costa Rican institutions of higher education.
     Fischel is the second world leader to visit Southeastern this semester as part of President
Sally Clausen's efforts in the area of international relations. Haitian President Rene Preval came to
campus in September on a similar mission of discussing international outreach opportunities.
     Fischel, who has been Costa Rica's second highest public official since 1998, will present a
free public lecture on "The Role of Latin American Women for the Next Century" at 10 a.m.,
Monday, November 8 in Pottle Music Building Auditorium. Clausen will confer an honorary
doctoral degree on Fischel after her speech.
     "Dr. Fischel stands out in her country as a leader in education, business, culture and
human rights," Clausen said. "We are honored by her visit and excited to be entering an
agreement to stimulate and support academics, research, cultural  and business activities among
the students and faculties of Southeastern and our sister institutions and the government of Costa
Rica."
     Following her lecture, Fischel will receive keys to the cities of Hammond and Ponchatoula
from Mayors Louis Tallo and Julian Dufreche at a luncheon at the Southeastern Alumni Center.
She also will join Clausen and Gonzalo Calderon, General Consul of Costa Rica, in signing a
formal agreement to promote and expand international academic and research programs of mutual
interest to Southeastern and Costa Rica. Exchanges could include areas such as arts, music,
business administration, education, foreign languages, English as a second 
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ASTRID FISCHEL   Add One
language and new technologies.
     Fischel will tour Southeastern and Hammond and meet with student leaders on Monday
afternoon and will have a working session with Southeastern administrators on Tuesday,
November 9. 
     Fischel, who is president of the Central American Association for Higher Education and
Culture, earned a doctoral degree in history from the University of Southampton, England, and a
master's degree in history from the University of Costa Rica. She has been actively involved in
higher education in Costa Rica since 1984 as a professor of history at the University of Costa
Rica, where she also served as director of the graduate program in education. Her many
publications include five books focusing on education and the arts.
     Fischel has served as vice president of the board of directors of the Costa Rican Chamber
of Commerce and a member of the board of the Council for Human Sustainable Development of
Costa Rica. She has expanded her expertise to include management and development and works
closely with her country's business community.
     In addition to serving as vice president, Fischel also is Representative Member of the
Council for Social Integration of Central America. She is a former Minister of Culture and now is
the general coordinator of Triangle of Solidarity.
     Her many awards include Business Woman of the Year, the Aquileo J. Escheverria Award
in History and the Cleto Gonzalez Viquez Award in Geography and History.
     Fischel will be traveling with Marielos Azofeifa, director of the office of the president of
Costa Rica, and Jenny Guzman, executive assistant to the vice president. Her lecture is sponsored
by Southeastern's Campus Activities Board, College of Arts and Sciences, foreign languages and
literatures department, and the Executive Master of Business Administration Program. It also is
part of Fanfare, the university's annual fall festival of the arts, humanities and sciences.
     For additional information, call Southeastern Public Information, 504-549-2341.
                             -SLU-
     This press release is available on the World Wide Web:
       www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf99.htm