• Dena María Jesús Camarena, Chancellor of the University of Sonora (México), recalls her time at CIHEAM Zaragoza and reflects upon common challenges and opportunities for collaboration between Latin America and the Mediterranean.

We chatted with Dena María Jesús Camarena, Chancellor of the University of Sonora for the period 2025–2030 and the second woman to take the helm of this institution. Born in Hermosillo (Sonora, Mexico) in 1976, Camarena combines a solid academic career with a wide experience in university management.

Since 2011 she has been a teaching-researcher at the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences of the University of Sonora, focusing her work on agrifood marketing, consumer markets and consumer behaviour. Her management experience includes coordination of the academic programme, academic administration, faculty leadership and general management.

A former CIHEAM Zaragoza student in the International Master in Agrifood Marketing (2001–2003), she recalls this period as a decisive stage of her training, during which she consolidated her global vision of agrifood systems.

In this interview, she reflects upon how her experience in Zaragoza shaped her professional career. From her perspective as chancellor of the University of Sonora, Dena highlights the importance of international partnerships and shares her vision for collaboration opportunities between Latin America and the Mediterranean.

Question: Your academic and professional career has been closely linked to the study of agrifood marketing and consumer behaviour. When did you become interested in these topics?

Answer: My interest began when I completed my degree and undertook research comparing the production costs of organic and conventional crops in the Sierra of Sonora using the Policy Analysis Matrix (MAP). This was my first academic approach to these food products and gave me the opportunity to work as a research assistant in the agricultural division of the Produce Foundation. The Foundation is an institution dedicated to promoting and supporting research, validation, and technology transfer projects in the sector. It was then that I realised how little research had been carried out in our state on agricultural markets, and that agrifood marketing was practically non-existent. This experience sparked my interest and encouraged me to pursue post-graduate studies in this field.

Since then, I have been committed to translating academic knowledge into better decision-making for producers, firms, and communities, convinced that agrifood marketing is a strategic tool for regional and national development.

Q: What key skills or values acquired at CIHEAM Zaragoza have you drawn upon in your professional career and in your academic leadership role?

A: During my training at CIHEAM Zaragoza, I lived and worked with people from different cultures and countries. This exposed me to a wide variety of approaches to tackling the same problem. I learnt that, through analysis, reflection, and constructive dialogue, it is possible to reach consensus and find trade-offs that enable progress. Values such as respect, tolerance, cooperation, and pursuit of excellence form part of student life at CIHEAM and remain with those of us who have had that experience. These values have been fundamental in my professional journey and are valuable assets for me today in my role as chancellor of the University of Sonora. They guide me in my efforts to make the university more open to global dialogue, more innovative, and more socially committed.

Q: During your training in Zaragoza, you had the opportunity to interact with professionals and students from different regions of the world. What networks did you build then, and how have they contributed to your work in research and teaching?

A: There were more than a dozen nationalities in my master’s programme. This was incredibly enlightening, as it enabled me to discover other cultures and learn different ways of analysing problems. I was also the intern in charge of the Hall of Residence on the Campus of Aula Dei.  Through these experiences, and by learning from lecturers of various nationalities, I developed networks that have strengthened over time. Upon returning to my country, these relationships have often led to agreements between the University of Sonora and a range of institutions in Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, and others. The networks have also facilitated participation in congresses, forums, symposiums and teaching activities, significantly enriching my research and academic work.

I believe these networks not only reinforce research and training but also enhance the active role our institutions play in the global debate on the future of education and sustainability.

Q: How important do you consider academic and cultural relations to be in the training of future professionals in the agrifood sector?

A: I think they are essential. Academic and cultural relationships allow us to collaborate in research projects, teaching activities, thesis supervision, and the organisation of conferences and seminars. They also provide a means of sharing state-of-the-art knowledge that is vital for training future professionals in the agrifood sector.

The opportunity to interact with experts from different disciplines and contexts enriches students’ education by broadening their horizons and equipping them with tools to understand the complexity of markets and food systems in a global environment. These links not only strengthen their academic preparation, but also enable them to develop intercultural skills, drive innovation, and open opportunities for mobility and integration into international networks.

In an interconnected world, educating tomorrow’s professionals also means preparing global citizens capable of offering solutions that transcend borders.

Q: From your new position as chancellor, do you foresee launching projects or partnerships to strengthen relations between Latin America and the Mediterranean?

A: Absolutely. I firmly believe in the importance of strengthening ties with the Mediterranean, a region with which we share historic, cultural and academic affinities that can be transformed into opportunities for joint research and mobility programmes, joint qualifications, and university networks that support teaching and knowledge creation. Moreover, shared challenges such as climate change, food security, sustainability, technological innovation, and social inclusion call for common agendas between universities and institutions from both regions.

I am convinced that international cooperation is a strategic pathway to strengthening training, innovation and social engagement at our institution. In this sense, the University of Sonora can serve as a bridge for dialogue and collaboration, bringing together our academic communities and our young people in international experiences that enhance their training and contribute to regional development.

The University of Sonora is a key actor in these alliances, enriching our academic community, while also generating concrete solutions to the serious challenges faced by our societies.

Q: Finally, what message would you like to share with the young professionals currently studying at our Institute now or considering doing so?

R: I would tell them that the Institute is a gateway to opportunities where they can grow, learn, and connect with the world. CIHEAM Zaragoza offers the tools and opportunities needed to build networks that will strengthen their professional future. It is an ideal moment to meet and interact with fellow students from other cultures and parts of the world and to make the most of the Institute’s first-class facilities and study programme. I am certain that their experience at the Institute will enable them to make a positive impact on their communities and society.

Studying at the Institute not only transforms individual lives, but it also trains leaders capable of driving change in their countries and contributing to global wellbeing.