IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno to Speak at NAFSA Conference Closing Plenary

LOS ANGELES, May 28, 2009 – Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the Inter-American Development Bank, will give tomorrow’s international plenary address on the final day of the 61st Annual Conference of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, taking place this week in Los Angeles. The plenary event begins at 12:30 PM on Friday, May 29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Early arrival is strongly advised for reporters interested in covering this event.

Before joining the IDB, Moreno served as Colombia’s ambassador to the United States for 7 years. Moreno has had a distinguished private and public sector career in international finance, as well as achievements in journalism. From 1982 to 1990, Moreno served as executive producer of “TV Hoy,” a leading news program. From 1991 to 1992, he was the president of the Instituto de Fomento Industrial (IFI), the Colombian government’s industrial finance corporation, and a holding company for many of the largest state enterprises in the country. And from 1992 to 1994, Moreno was Colombia’s minister of economic development. During his tenure, he led the design and implementation of Colombia’s industrial policy, social investment portfolio, and competitiveness strategy. For his work in economic development, Moreno received Colombia’s highest honor – the Orden de Boyacá en el Grado de Gran Cruz – in 2002.

NAFSA's annual conference is the world's largest gathering of professionals in international educational exchange. More than 7,000 participants from 100 countries are expected this year. The conference runs through Friday, May 29.

Also at Friday’s plenary event, NAFSA’s Senator Paul Simon Awards for Campus Internationalization and Spotlights awards will be presented.

Other conference highlights for Friday, May 29:

• Conference concurrent sessions will run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. These sessions are open to the news media. No reserved seating will be available, and prompt arrival is advised.
  
• Over 400 organizations are exhibiting at the conference’s International Education Expo. The Expo, located at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will be open 8:30 AM - 11:15 AM on Wednesday.
• Pre-registration is closed. Reporters may register on-site, 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM. All reporters who have not previously registered for this week’s conference must check in by 11:00 AM in order to cover today’s events.

The NAFSA Press Pass includes admission to the NAFSA Conference and Expo between Tuesday, May 26, and Friday, May 29, for the plenary speeches, the opening and closing celebrations, the International Education Expo, and the concurrent sessions. In many session and seminar rooms, seating is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. No reserved seating for news media will be available, and prompt arrival is advised. Conference workshops, private events, special events that require pre-registration or payment of a fee, and meetings of NAFSA leadership and member groups are closed to the news media.

For advance or on-site help, to schedule interviews, or to arrange a quick guided orientation to the conference, contact andya@nafsa.org.