The Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Speaker Series kicks off the fall semester with a presentation by Maria-Elena Giner, Ph.D., former U.S. Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission. The event is free and open to the public.
She will present “1944 Water Treaty: Managing the Waters of the Rio Grande” from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Adams State McDaniel Hall 101. The presentation will also be live streamed at adams.edu/live and available on the Salazar Center’s video library afterwards.
Dr. Giner was appointed by President Joe Biden to lead the International Boundary and Water Commission in August 2021, a position she held until January of this year. She was the second woman and first Latina to serve in this role. She has worked in the public sector for 25 years on clean energy, water, and natural resource protection initiatives, including over 19 years at the Border Environment Cooperation Commission as the Deputy General Manager and later as General Manager–an appointment she received from the U.S. and Mexican governments.
Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Loyola Marymount University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas El Paso, and a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Texas at Austin. She is also a registered professional engineer, first-generation college graduate, and daughter of an immigrant.
Dr. Giner’s presentation coincides with the visit of engineering students, faculty, and administrators from Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. Adams State recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Anáhuac to create exchange programs between the two universities.
“Having traveled with Adams State representatives to visit the Anáhuac campus and then meeting Dr. Giner at the Law of the Rio Grande conference in April, I thought she would be an excellent person to bring to campus to speak to the shared history and common interests our two nations have about the Rio Grande,” explains Salazar Center Director Paul Formisano, PhD. “We’re very fortunate to have her visit the San Luis Valley and learn more about the water education initiatives at Adams State.”
A reception for Dr. Giner will take place at Vistas Restaurant, located in Rex Stadium, following her presentation.
