The Universidad Estatal Del Valle de Ecatepec (UNEVE), a public university located near Mexico City, recently dedicated its new campus library to Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, president of Dallas-based Parker College of Chiropractic. The new building, whose opening was marked by a ceremony including key Mexican and American dignitaries, serves as the official library for the university and supports five distinctive careers including acupuncture, chiropractic, gerontology, humanities and multimedia communication.
UNEVE's rector Jose Angel Fernandez Garcia, along with the university's board, students, faculty and staff, recognized Dr. Mancini for his generous contributions to the university.
"We are pleased to name our library after Dr. Mancini—someone who is extremely devoted to extending opportunities for our students," said Garcia. "This is the first time in Mexico's history, which we're aware of, that a building has been dedicated to a non-national person, or person while still living. This new library is crucial for our students' learning and will be a significant part of our campus."
Dr. Mancini, a native of Colombia, has assisted in the growth of chiropractic in underserved countries in Latin America. He was also instrumental in helping establish UNEVE's chiropractic program—the first institution in the world to offer a Spanish-taught chiropractic program. More than 180 doctors of chiropractic have graduated from the program since its inception in 2001.
In 2009, Dr. Mancini donated more than 1,200 books from his personal library to the university, with the understanding that, "books are meant to be shared, not stored."
"I am an avid reader, and for more than 20 years I've saved the books that have impacted me most," said Dr. Mancini. "When I saw that UNEVE did not have many books, I felt inspired to share all this wisdom with their students for generations to come."
During the ceremony, Dr. Mancini and Parker executives presented UNEVE with more than 10 donated computers and other computer accessories, which will be available in the library for students' use.
Parker College also works with the UNEVE community through a student exchange program that gives Parker students clinical experience while learning Spanish immersed in Mexican culture. In turn, UNEVE students who participate in the exchange program receive hands-on experience at Parker College's campus in Dallas and the chance to practice English skills.
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