Professor and surgeon Lina María Vera Cala has been appointed director of International Relations at the Industrial University of Santander (UIS). The professor, who holds a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and is affiliated with the Department of Public Health in the School of Medicine, expressed her satisfaction at taking on this new challenge, through which she hopes to strengthen the institution’s national and international standing.
“I am very happy. The University is one of the largest in the country and in Latin America, but the world is much broader, and I believe we must continue to expand into new national and international arenas. I will dedicate all my experience and commitment to achieving this,” said Vera Cala.
The new director has a solid academic and research background. She is the author of more than 40 scientific articles and has participated in more than 60 research projects. She has also held important leadership positions at the University, including director of Research and Outreach at the School of Health, director of the Department of Public Health, and, most recently, dean of the School of Health.
“I believe this is a good time in my professional life to take on this challenge. I have had the opportunity to hold various positions within the university, an experience that will allow me to contribute to the institution’s growth from a new perspective,” he said.
Vera Cala emphasized that the Office of International Relations plays a strategic role in the UIS’s cooperation and internationalization efforts, and she will therefore work to expand opportunities for academic exchange, research, and collaboration with institutions in Colombia and abroad.
“In recent years, the Office of International Relations has significantly strengthened the University and increased its international visibility. Our goal is to build on that work and create new opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers, thereby strengthening the UIS’s presence on the international stage,” she concluded.
