During a recent two-day visit to Panama, Florida International University (FIU) President Jeanette M. Nuñez led a delegation aimed at strengthening research partnerships focused on trade, innovation, and security. The group included undergraduate Alexandra “Lexi” Bishop, a senior in the Honors College and political science major who works as a junior open source analyst with FIU’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy.
Bishop described her experience participating in high-level discussions that addressed the intersection of global trade, technology, and geopolitics at the Panama Canal. She had the opportunity to brief U.S. Ambassador to Panama and FIU alumnus Kevin Marino Cabrera alongside Brian Fonseca, director of the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy. Their conversation centered on China’s influence in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2000, examining its growing role across diplomatic, technological, military, and economic spheres.
“It was great to welcome President Nuñez and FIU researchers to Panama to discuss the university’s long-standing partnership with the Department of State and plans to expand its collaboration in Panama,” Cabrera said. “U.S. universities strengthen our people-to-people ties, expand opportunity and showcase the best of American higher education.”
The delegation’s briefing drew from insights developed by FIU’s Security Research Hub—a resource created in partnership with US Southern Command that has received Congressional support over time.
During the visit, President Nuñez met with Ramón Icaza Clément, Panama’s minister of Canal Affairs, and Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, administrator of the Panama Canal Authority. Together they signed a memorandum of understanding intended to deepen collaboration between FIU and Panamanian authorities on research initiatives related to one of the world’s most important commercial routes.
“We take great pride in partnering with a university that has become an important bridge for the Americas, one that exemplifies academic excellence, innovation and commitment to public service,” Vásquez Morales said. “FIU’s own mission aligns perfectly with the canal’s commitment to sustainable development and international cooperation.”
The delegation also visited Panama’s DNA Laboratory in Gamboa at the Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses. There they observed how FIU’s Global Forensic and Justice Center (GFJC) has supported local forensic capacity building for seven years through training programs funded by the U.S. Department of State.
Marisol Carías, a consultant supporting GFJC efforts in Panama stated: “The partnership between the institute and FIU has played a vital role in enhancing Panama’s forensic and investigative capabilities. By working closely together, Panama has emerged as a regional leader in forensic innovation, showing how international collaboration can create meaningful and lasting progress throughout Latin America.”
FIU is also considering expanding its presence at Ciudad del Saber (City of Knowledge), which serves as an innovation hub on a former U.S. military base.
The trip concluded with an event hosted at Ambassador Cabrera’s residence where officials, scholars, alumni—more than 250 currently live in Panama—and students gathered to celebrate ongoing connections between FIU and Panama.
Bishop reflected on her rare opportunity as a student to present research directly informing policy conversations: “As an aspiring public servant, this experience was invaluable: standing before Ambassador Cabrera and his team at the U.S. Embassy in Panama, I was able to translate academic insights into real-world policy conversations… More than anything, the experience deepened my commitment to pursuing a career in public service- one grounded in rigorous analysis, collaboration, and a genuine desire to contribute to U.S. engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
The visit involved collaborative efforts among several FIU entities including its College of Business; Green School of International & Public Affairs; Institute of Environment; Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom; as well as ongoing work relevant to regional issues.
