News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Summer  2005 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 8/25/05   Click on image for publication quality photo  SOUTHEASTERN INSTRUCTOR SELECTED FOR U.S. SENATE HISPANIC LEADERSHIP SUMMIT        HAMMOND --  Aristides R. Baraya, director of the Latin American Business and Development Initiative in Southeastern Louisiana University’s College of Business, has been nominated to participate in the Senate Hispanic Leadership Summit Sept. 27-28 in Washington, DC.        Baraya, an instructor in general business at the university, was nominated by U.S. Senator David Vitter. He is one of 400 individuals nominated by U.S. senators to participate in the summit and the only one representing a university business school.        The summit is designed to bring together government leaders and prominent Latinos from across the country to address issues such as economic development, job creation, education, health care and retirement security.        “This is a great opportunity to meet with other Hispanics and with Senate leaders to discuss quality of life and economic issues that affect the Hispanic community,” said Baraya, an active member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Orleans. “I hope to be able to continue to work with Senator Vitter and others to enhance relationships with the Latin American community and with Latin  American nations to improve economic development for the state of Louisiana.”        “Dr. Baraya’s selection for this prestigious nomination is truly an honor and testament to his ongoing efforts to enhance cross-cultural learning for his students and other faculty members at Southeastern,” said College of Business Dean Randy Settoon.         A native of Colombia, Baraya came to the United States in 1994, serving as a visiting professor and coordinator of international relations at Tulane University, where he also earned a master’s degree in international development. He also holds a doctor of dentistry degree from the University of Cartagena, Colombia, and in 2003 was awarded Southeastern’s President’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service, one of the highest recognitions the university bestows on faculty members.        Baraya – who was named one of Louisiana’s top 100 successful Hispanic citizens in 2003 by “Vocero News of New Orleans ” – has helped develop cooperative agreements between Southeastern and the Inter-American Development Bank, the Organization of American States, as well as agreements with governmental agencies and civic organizations in Costa Rica, Panama and Honduras. In recent years, he has organized several programs at Southeastern for Latin American entrepreneurs and business professionals designed to promote mutual economic development, making the university a growing institution in international education and training.        He is a resident of Metairie.