It was standing room only when Claudia Velasco, Consul General of Mexico in Raleigh, N.C., addressed students, faculty, staff and visitors on Thursday, September 21 in Phyfer Auditorium. Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, Velasco was sponsored by the Association of Latino Professionals for America – Clemson University Student Chapter, the Department of Management at the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business and the Consulate General of Mexico in Raleigh, N.C.
Velasco started her diplomatic career in 1992, working at the Embassies of Mexico in Brazil and Bolivia, as well as in the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations, and consular duties in Dallas and Houston, acting as Deputy Consul in Houston.
She became Consul General in Raleigh in 2019, and since then has worked to strengthen ties with the Mexican community in the Carolinas, the geographical area that consulate serves. The consulate promotes Mexican culture in both Carolinas. In terms of community development, the consulate works with strategic partners to address health matters – especially relevant during the pandemic.
At Clemson, Velasco addressed 200 Years of Bilateral Relations: Strengthening the Economic and Cultural Ties between the US and Mexico, encouraging everyone in attendance to both visit Mexico and to develop additional language skills.
While in Clemson, Velasco visited with President Jim Clements and spent time with her son, who is attending Clemson as a first-year student.