The main pyramid of Kiuic, as reconstructed by National Geographic

ACROSS THE STREET AND AROUND THE GLOBE:
PARTNERSHIPS AND INFLUENCE AT MILLSAPS COLLEGE
The Millsaps College Strategic Plan
Millsaps
College
Mérida
Oxkutzcab
Kiuic
Yucatán and the Maya World
MÉRIDA
OXKUTZCAB
 A year round research and learning center located in Mérida,
the urban capital of the state of Yucatán, Mexico
 A location where teaching and research focused on urban life,
issues, and language takes place year round
 Housing for 20+ students and several faculty
 Includes Wi-Fi and classroom
 Springboard for connecting with local businesses and learning
about international business and economic issues
Casa Millsaps
Mérida, Yucatán
Else School of Business and Culture in Mérida
 A year-round research and learning center located in the
vibrant Maya town of Oxkutzcab, as part of Kaxil Kiuic
 A location where laboratory research, teaching and
curation of materials takes place year round
 Housing for 16+ students and several faculty
 Includes Wi-Fi, field laboratory, and classroom
 Storage facility for Mayan artifacts in partnership with
INAH and Millsaps
Millsaps Puuc Archaeological
Research Center - MPARC
Kinkajou Casita - MPARC
 A Mexican non-profit that owns property and is managed
by a board of directors associated with Millsaps College
 4,500 acre biocultural reserve recognized as an (UMA)
Unidad de Manejo Ambiente (Environmental
Management Unit) by the Mexican Government
 A set of scientific projects including the BRAP
 A center for education and learning
 A member of a number of local communities
The Kiuic Biocultural Reserve – Location of
the Maya site of Kiuic
Archaeology as a way to engage the world:
The Bolonchen Regional Archaeological Project – A Joint Millsaps and
INAH Program of research and conservation, led by Dr. George Bey,
Professor of Anthropology, Millsaps College and Dr. Tomás Gallereta,
INAH Archaeologist and Millsaps Scholar of Maya Studies
Excavations are carried out through an international research
program funded by Millsaps College, INAH and other sources such as NSF,
National Geographic and private foundations. Here is a view of the recent
excavations of the main pyramid in Dzunum Plaza, Yaxche Group
The main pyramid of Kiuic, as reconstructed by National Geographic
for “Quest for the Lost Maya”
PIXELDUST STUDIOS
Kaxil Kiuic is recognized as
containing one of the best
preserved areas of the
endangered dry tropical
forest in Mexico and
Central America.
Biological research and conservation is carried out at
the reserve through partnerships with various Mexican
and American institutions and Millsaps College
Major partners in biology include: Autonomous University of Yucatán
(UADY), Center for Scientific Investigations in Yucatán (CICY), National
Forestry Council of Mexico (CONAFOR), Pronatura (Pro-Nature).
Kaxil Kiuic – Seed Bank and Nursery
Just about every department at Millsaps has become involved in Yucatán now, including
anthropology, art, biology, business, chemistry, English, geology, history, Latin
American studies, mathematics, philosophy, religious studies and Spanish!
Some of the schools that have used Kaxil
Kiuic:
Roanoke College
Brenau University
Autonomous University of Yucatán
Ohio State University
Michigan State University
Autonomouse University of Mexico
Texas A & M University
Centre College
University Of Florida, Gainesville
Ursinus University
Central College in Yucatán
California State U., East Bay
Universidad Marista
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
In addition to Millsaps, many other
U.S. and Mexican colleges and
universities use the reserve for
teaching in a wide variety of areas.
They come for anywhere from one
day to a semester.
Biology class from UADY
Anthropology class from
Ursinus University
A number of research
programs have been started in
the sciences at the reserve
including biological base line
inventory projects in
entomology, ornithology and
plants as well as a geological
study of the geology, soils and
hydrology of the reserve.
Participants include Millsaps
College, INAH, US Forestry
Service, the University of
Richmond, Texas Tech, UADY
and CICY. We are also doing a
migration study with Bucknell
University of Maya in the
Bolonchen.
We support a high school scholarship
Program for Rural Youth
Xavier Abreu, national director of
CDI (CDI = Comision de
Desarrollo de los Pueblos
Indígenas), talking with the heads
of the 4 embroidery groups we
have been working with over the
past 4 years. As a result of the
visit, 2 of the 4 groups of women
have renewed support this year
and the other 2 will have support
next year.
Olie and Geramias explaining
about the site and what they do
at Kiuic to women and children
from Yaxhachen
Ko’ox Boon
Kiuic and the various communities
with which it partners and interacts
Millsaps College and INAH
The Tourist
community
Undergraduate and Graduate
Education, in Mexico and US
Private Supporters
The Scientific Community
Kaxil Kiuic and the Kiuic
Biocultural Reserve
State Government
Federal Government
Municipal Government
The Environmental
Community
The Larger Maya Community
Local Maya Communities like Yaxhachen
and Xobenhaltun
Our vision for the next decade
includes:
More strategic partnerships (such as with The
Nature Conservancy, The World Monument Fund and
other Mexican and international Educational institutions)
– In order to become even more of a global model, so we
can contribute to conservation through research and
learning in increasingly significant ways.
Exchange of Students – We want to be able to bring
Mexican students to Millsaps, studying and working in
the Keck Lab.
More scholarships - We want the ability to send more
students to take advantage of our Yucatán Initiative.
More support for faculty development and
research - We need to make it possible to allow faculty
to also carry out research or develop more courses.
Support to sustain and expand the Semester
Program- Making it a successful part of the
International Education Experience.
Generate additional revenue, including partnerships
and eco-tourism.
ACROSS THE STREET AND AROUND THE GLOBE:
PARTNERSHIPS AND INFLUENCE AT
MILLSAPS COLLEGE