CDU Celebrates Retirement of COSH Dean Balcazar
CDU staff and faculty celebrated the retirement of Dr . Hector Balcazar , Dean of CDU ’ s College of Science and Health , at a special event held in the COBB Lounge in December 2021 . The gathering included a ceremony awarding Dr . Balcazar a plaque that commemorated his service to the University along with many people sharing accolades and personal stories about the Dean .
Dr . Balcazar joined CDU in April 2016 . Before his appointment , Dr . Balcazar was the Regional Dean of Public Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , School of Public Health , El Paso Regional Campus . He was also a tenured professor of health promotion and behavioral sciences .
Prior to joining UT , he was a tenured professor and Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences , School of Public Health at University of North Texas Health Science Center and a tenured Associate Professor at Arizona State University .
He holds a Ph . D . and M . S . degree in International Nutrition from Cornell University , and a B . S . degree in Nutrition and Food Science from Iberoamericana University in Mexico City .
Balcazar announced that he will use his retirement to return to Mexico to become a gardener . “ I ’ m going to be retiring to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo , Mexico ,” said Balcazar . “ I have always wanted to develop a little place where we can build trees and fruits and do a little landscaping . I enjoy solitude , I enjoy being there and listening to the birds – and that ’ s going to be my life .”
Dr . Sheba George , Associate Professor at the College of Medicine , was one of the speakers who shared her farewell to Dr . Balcazar .
“ I ’ ve seen you be consistently loving and kind in your responses and actions ,” Dr . George said . “ I ’ ve been lucky enough to observe and learn from you , as you modeled how to live up to the signature at the end of your email that reads ‘ Paradise is a state of mind of the loving kind .”
“ I am so very grateful ,” said Balcazar . “ Sometimes words cannot explain , but this is a precious place and I have been very delighted to be part of this journey here at CDU .”
2022 Annual Report Charles R . Drew University of Medicine and Science
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