International Business Scholars were honored recently at Sempra headquarters. Front row, L to R: Yuen Yee Lepe Ley, Nayeli Isabel Perez Filio, Gail Naughton, dean of the SDSU College of Business, Claudia Gutierrez-Carreon. Back row, L to R: Steven Sacco, chair, International Business, Sonia Enedina Sanchez Perez, George Liparidis, '86 MBA, President of Sempra Energy International, Gabriela Michell Lopez Nevarez, Mari Carmen Vera Delgado, and Xiomara Ramos Pujals.

Sempra Energy Sponsors Baja California's Future Business Leaders at SDSU

Innovative Leadership Program will support and encourage SDSU international business majors from Baja California cities.

Sempra Energy will sponsor an innovative program at San Diego State University to identify and support Baja California’s future business leaders. The International Business Leadership Program could sponsor as many as 43 students over a four-year period with grants from Sempra Energy that could total approximately $500,000 to help SDSU international business majors from Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito, Mexicali and Tecate pay for tuition, living expenses, books, a summer camp, mentors and internships.

Seven students, one from Ensenada, one from Rosarito, one from Tecate and four from Tijuana, were selected for this year’s program and were honored at a recent ceremony held in May at Sempra Energy Headquarters.

“This is an incredible gift that will help us prepare future business leaders in Baja California,” said Steven Sacco, chair of SDSU’s international business major. The students will be selected based on their academic qualifications, career goals and demonstrated leadership skills.

A leader in transnational degree programs, SDSU offers MEXUS, in which students spend two years at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) or Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior (CETYS) in Baja California and two years at SDSU. Since MEXUS was launched ten years ago, more programs have been added such as CaMexUS with schools in Mexico and Canada, and most recently a triple degree program with Mexico and Chile.

“We were very impressed by MEXUS and want to provide opportunities for Baja California students who have exhibited leadership skills and an interest in international business, to benefit from this innovative program during their junior and senior years in college,” said Sempra Energy International President, George Liparidis. “Our partnership with SDSU reflects Sempra Energy’s support of future leaders of the region.”

To ensure success, each Sempra Energy international scholar will be assigned two mentors, one who is an upper division international business student, and the other a graduate of the program.

Dean Gail Naughton of the SDSU College of Business said “this partnership is a great fit because Sempra Energy recently ranked among the top five on Fortune magazine's yearly list of America's 50 Best Companies for Minorities. We not only educate a diverse student body, but many of our students are the first in their families to attend college.”

“This program will give more students the opportunity to earn this valuable degree,” added
Paul Wong, dean of the SDSU College of Arts and Letters, which co-sponsors the international business major with SDSU’s College of Business.

“The international business program’s success
lies in the combination of rigorous language and regional studies courses offered by the College of Arts and Letters, balanced with essential business courses in a variety of disciplines offered by the College of Business,” he added.

The international business major at SDSU enrolls approximately 750 students and is among the largest undergraduate programs of its kind in the country. Ranked #11 by U.S. News & World Report, it operates under the auspices of SDSU’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). The center is currently funded in part by $1.5 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education.

“During recent years, we’ve seen interest in international studies increase, due to the effects of globalization, around the world,” noted Frank Villalba, Director of Business Studies at CETYS University.

“Universities find it imperative that their students understand other cultures if they are to develop leadership and decision-making abilities,” he added. “Universities need to broaden opportunities for more students to participate in international experiences but resources are limited. On behalf of young students, we appreciate Sempra Energy’s efforts and partnership in preparing future leaders.”