Renaming of U.S.-Mexico Binational Center

In the mid-1980s, Dr. Dean Carter began establishing collaborative ties with Mexican researchers in order to fill the void when it comes to environmental health disparities in Mexico and the Border region.  With the 1989 award beginning the University of Arizona (UA) Superfund Research Program (SRP), Dr. Carter created an “Outreach to Mexico” component to the Community Engagement Core.  This was visionary at the time considering a future emphasis on global environmental health by the NIEHS SRP.  Dr. Carter’s tireless effort in training of future scientists and nurturing binational collaboration has earned him the great respect of his peers and former students.  He not only shaped environmental scientists of the future but also lifelong friends.

In May 2010, Dr. Carter passed away due to health complications.  To honor him, Mexican and US colleagues petitioned the UA and Arizona Border of Regents (ABOR) to officially rename the US-Mexico Binational Center to the Dean Carter Binational Center for Environmental Health Sciences.  Approval was received in November and officially announced at the 2010 Superfund Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon.  Mrs. Carolyn Carter was present at the meeting and Dr. A. Jay Gandolfi provided a moving narrative of Dr. Carter’s life and work.  In addition, Dr. Gandolfi presented Mrs. Carter with a plaque containing the letter that was submitted to UA and ABOR to officially rename the Center.