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Homeland Security Secretary, others to visit NMSU for Domenici Conference
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will visit New Mexico State University as part of the 2009 Domenici Public Policy Conference, Sept. 16-17, at Corbett Center.
Napolitano will headline a session on homeland security and the U.S./Mexico border. The next day, Mexico's perspective on the issue will be covered.
Additionally, the conference will feature Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright, who will speak about national security along with former U.S. Congresswoman Heather Wilson. Wilson is also a former member of the National Security Council.
"Our goal is to bring together some of the best minds to speak on these topics," said Garrey Carruthers, NMSU vice president for economic development and director of the Domenici Institute. "This year we will focus specifically on issues with a real impact on people across the country."
The two-day conference will also feature a discussion on the U.S. economy and national debt led by David Walker, former director of the U.S. General Accounting Office. Alex Flint, senior vice president at the Nuclear Energy Institute, will lead a discussion on nuclear energy.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for NMSU students, faculty and staff to hear from people who create and influence policy in our country," said Ann Morgan, project manager for the Domenici Institute. "We encourage everyone to participate. The subject matter covered during the conference, presented by this caliber of experts, would make ideal sources for research papers, theses and other scholarly works."
During the conference, students from universities around the state, including NMSU, New Mexico Tech, the University of New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico University, Western New Mexico University, Northern New Mexico College and New Mexico Highlands University, will have a chance to interact with the conference speakers and ask about their views at the conclusion of each session.
Conference registration costs $25 and is available online at http://domenici.nmsu.edu. Student registration is free. For more information, call the Domenici Institute at (575) 646-2066.
Written by Justin Bannister.