It’s January, and students fill the rooms of the Colorado State University Todos Santos Center on the west coast of the Baja California Sur peninsula in Mexico.
The semester is beginning in Fort Collins, and while a cohort of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology students return to campus following a Winter Break program in Todos Santos, their classmates are continuing the semester abroad at CSU’s only international hub.
Kate Huyvaert, associate professor in the department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, notes that the students taking part in the semester-long courses in Todos Santos are already soaking in the culture.
“Our third iteration of the FWCB semester program is well underway,” she says. “The energy at the Center is really positive and fresh. I’m especially excited about the English programs that [the Center’s English teacher] Olaf [Morales Barrales] has going on, and that his students and my students have had and will have some moments to practice their new language skills together in the coming weeks.”
In addition to the two Warner College of Natural Resources courses, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences student rotations also begin in sync with the academic calendar in Fort Collins. The 10-day hands-on externship rotations have students performing pet spay and neuter clinics within the community.
“We are excited for our new partnership with Los Cabos Humane Society, we hope to really strengthen and increase our community surgical outreach, and bring free spay/neuter to more neighborhoods,” says Danielle Straatmann, director of the Todos Santos Veterinary Externship Program.
In February, the College of Agricultural Sciences will host a Sustainable Agricultural course at the Todos Santos Center, and CVMBS’ Cody Minor will arrive at the Center to continue his research on ticks and dog populations.
In addition to courses for CSU students, the University is hosting four community-centric English courses at the Center and nearby Pescadero with Barrales, which draw more than 100 community members.
For more information about events at the CSU Todos Santos Center, visit https://todossantos.colostate.edu/events/.
About the CSU Todos Santos Center
The Colorado State University Todos Santos Center is the University’s first international location and is core to CSU’s mission of teaching, research, service and outreach.
The Center provides opportunities for CSU students and Baja California Sur residents to collaborate with local partners and businesses to identify needs, conduct research, and produce impactful outcomes.
CSU’s vision in Todos Santos is to cultivate generations of global citizens and to be a part of creating thriving communities through collaboration, experience and exchange of knowledge in areas such as agriculture, infectious disease, elementary education, environmental and social sustainability, wildlife ecology, veterinary medicine, and public health.
