Mims World Group, founded by long-time economic developer Ralph L. Mims, facilitated a strategic partnership between the University of New Mexico (UNM) and The University of the West Indies Five Island Campus, Antigua, and Barbuda.

The partnership is designed to expand immersion opportunities for students at both institutions. Also instrumental in the partnership is Dr. Curtis Charles, the Director of Academic Affairs at the University of the West Indies 5 Island Campus in Antigua and UNM African American Student Services Director Brandi Stone.

The program, in collaboration with UNM’s African American Student Services (AAAS), aims to deepen students’ connections to the African diaspora and broaden their global perspectives.

It will introduce UNM students to the rich cultural, historical, and social environments of Antigua and Barbuda, while UWI Five Island Campus students will encounter the unique socio-historical and multi-cultural aspects of New Mexico.

This new partnership comes at a pivotal moment, responding to the increasing demand for more inclusive and globally aware academic opportunities for Black students.

“We are excited to partner with the University of the West Indies Five Island Campus in Antigua and Barbuda and are in the early stages of building a co-curricular study abroad program in which students can engage in academic and service-learning opportunities through a two-week summer immersion program,” said Stone. “We recognize that Black students want to pursue study abroad opportunities but often face financial barriers. As a result, this co-curricular study abroad program will require fundraising efforts to help support expanding students’ access.”

“The collaboration constitutes an exciting new chapter for UNM’s internationalization. I share Director Stone’s enthusiasm for this program because historically, we haven’t had many student mobility options in the region,” said Todd Karr, director of Education Abroad and National Exchange. “I believe this experience will be particularly interesting for Black and Afro-Latinx students at UNM, given the cultural diversity and complex history of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora.