SWA Community
RAFAEL FERNANDEZ
DE CASTRO
A
t Southwest Airlines, we
believe community is
more than a place - it’s
at the heart of what brings us together. Fostering an
environment that encourages diversity of ideas, knowledge
and actions is paramount to our operational excellence.
We work tirelessly to build strong, mutually beneficial, strategic
relationships. By fostering these true partnerships, Southwest
proves its commitment to People in diverse groups. Such is
the case with Dr. Rafael Fernández de Castro, the director of
the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at UC San Diego and his
A
s a Mexican
Graduate student
in the U.S., Rafael
Fernández de
Castro worked
in the office of legendary U.S.
Representative, Henry B. González,
one of the first Latinos to serve in
Congress. This experience changed
his life, leading him to become
highly interested in U.S. political
institutions returning to Washington
a year later to pursue a PhD in
Political Science.
Mexico’s history, present and future
is marked by its relationship with
the United States. As with any
relationship, there are problems and
benefits. Throughout his career as an academic and policy maker,
Dr. Fernández de Castro has always insisted that Mexico view its
northern neighbor as an opportunity. In his own words, this has set
him apart from many Mexican academics and diplomats who view
the shared border with the U.S. as a misfortune.
50 GBSAN.COM | JULY 2018
pivotal role in leadership and influence
in policy. As a professor and former
foreign policy adviser to Mexican
President Felipe Calderón, he is an expert on bilateral relations
between Mexico and the U.S. We applaud his
efforts to understand and help build a better
relationship between Mexico, Latin America
and the United States.
Lidia S. Martinez
Manager, Community Affairs &
Grassroots Southwest Airlines
Dr. Fernández de Castro’s real
passion - and the goal for his
professional legacy - is for
Mexico and Latin America to
better understand the United
States. He has written three
books that try to answer the
question “What is the United
States?”, and what Mexicans
should know about its political
institutions, society, and culture.
He is known to be relentless
with his students, especially
those who will become
Mexico’s future diplomats,
teaching them that they can’t
judge the U.S. before getting to
know it.
Developing a deep understanding of the U.S. has been the
trademark of the International Relations undergraduate program
Dr. Fernández de Castro founded at one of the most prestigious
colleges in Latin America, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de
México (ITAM). Today, the program’s graduates actively participate