{"id":13588,"date":"2026-09-21T14:21:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T18:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/?p=13588"},"modified":"2026-09-21T14:21:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T18:21:54","slug":"saint-peters-university-announces-creation-of-inter-american-institute-for-communication-and-culture-iicc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/09\/21\/saint-peters-university-announces-creation-of-inter-american-institute-for-communication-and-culture-iicc\/","title":{"rendered":"Saint Peter\u2019s University Announces Creation of Inter-American Institute for Communication and Culture (IICC)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trilateral partnership with Universidad Latina de Am\u00e9rica and Quadrat\u00edn Hispano will advance journalism, research, media innovation, and cross-cultural understanding across the Americas<\/b><\/p>\n

JERSEY CITY, N.J. \u2013 September 21, 2026 <\/b> \u2013 Saint Peter\u2019s University has announced the creation of the <\/span>Inter-American Institute for Communication and Culture (IICC)<\/b> (<\/span>Instituto Interamericano de Comunicaci\u00f3n y Cultura<\/span><\/i>), a new trilateral partnership bringing together Saint Peter\u2019s University (SPU), Universidad Latina de Am\u00e9rica (UNLA) in Mexico and Quadrat\u00edn Hispano, a bilingual media organization operating in the United States, founded as an extension of Quadrat\u00edn M\u00e9xico, its originating media organization and founding partner.<\/span><\/p>\n

The IICC will establish a collaborative model connecting higher education and the professional media industry across national borders. Through this partnership, faculty, students, journalists, researchers and civic leaders will work together to examine the diverse economic, social, technological and political issues shaping the United States, Mexico, and the broader Americas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>By integrating academic excellence, professional newsroom expertise, and collaborative research, the IICC will support the preparation of bilingual and bicultural leaders, will produce impactful investigative reporting, strengthen democratic discourse, and build enduring partnerships that advance understanding throughout the Americas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSPU is proud to help pioneer a new model of collaboration across the Americas, one that brings together a U.S. Jesuit Catholic university, a Mexican university, and a leading bilingual media organization in a permanent ecosystem dedicated to truth, human dignity, and the common good<\/span><\/i>,\u201d said President Hubert Benitez, D.D.S., Ph.D. \u201c<\/span>What makes this model distinctive is its deliberate integration of academic, business, media, and civic perspectives across borders. The IICC leans into sustained collaboration, creating an innovative approach to education, research, and service that moves beyond traditional academic partnerships<\/span><\/i>\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a founding industry partner, Quadrat\u00edn Hispano will provide opportunities for experiential learning while collaborating with the Institute on investigative journalism, newsroom innovation, media partnerships, content distribution, and professional development. The partnership will also connect the Institute\u2019s academic work with audiences beyond the university and create opportunities for students and emerging professionals to engage directly with experienced journalists.<\/span><\/p>\n

Universidad Latina de Am\u00e9rica, based in Morelia, Michoac\u00e1n, will contribute its academic expertise and international perspective, strengthening opportunities for cross-border research, educational programming and collaboration between scholars and practitioners.<\/span><\/p>\n

Saint Peter\u2019s will bring to the partnership its longstanding Jesuit tradition of academic excellence, ethical leadership, global engagement and commitment to educating students for lives of service and leadership.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>We are proud to join the Institute as a founding industry partner, an opportunity that represents a new chapter for Quadrat\u00edn Hispano and a first for our organization<\/span><\/i>,\u201d said Leo Espinoza, President of Quadrat\u00edn Hispano. \u201c<\/span>This partnership gives us the opportunity to contribute directly to the education and professional development of the next generation of journalists, communicators, and media leaders while sharing the practical knowledge and experience of a working newsroom\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Institute will be guided by principles of journalistic integrity, academic excellence, democratic values and cross-cultural understanding. Its work will emphasize evidence-based research, responsible reporting and human-centered storytelling, with the goal of strengthening public dialogue and developing new approaches to communication and media collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis Institute represents an important expression of UNLA\u2019s commitment to internationalization and to creating meaningful educational opportunities that connect our students and faculty with institutions, professionals, and communities beyond Mexico<\/span><\/i>,\u201d said Professor Jesus Vivanco, President\/Rector of the UNLA. <\/span>\u201cOur participation reflects UNLA\u2019s mission to form people with strong professional preparation, respect for diversity, and a deep commitment to their communities\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The IICC will also provide opportunities for students to gain practical experience working alongside professional journalists and researchers, while giving media professionals and organizations access to academic expertise, emerging talent and innovative approaches to journalism and communication.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through its trilateral structure, the Inter-American Institute for Communication and Culture seeks to build a lasting network connecting universities, journalists, researchers and civic leaders across the United States and Mexico and, ultimately, throughout the Americas.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*****************************************************************************<\/p>\n

About Saint Peter\u2019s University<\/b><\/p>\n

For more than 150 years, Saint Peter\u2019s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, has educated a diverse community of learners through undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in an ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, visit www.saintpeters.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About Universidad Latina de Am\u00e9rica<\/b>
\nUniversidad Latina de Am\u00e9rica (UNLA) is a private university located in Morelia, Michoac\u00e1n, Mexico, offering academic programs designed to prepare students for professional success and responsible citizenship in an increasingly interconnected world.<\/span><\/p>\n

About Quadrat\u00edn Hispano<\/b>
\nQuadrat\u00edn Hispano is a bilingual media organization serving audiences in the United States and Mexico. As a founding industry partner of the Inter-American Institute for Communication and Culture, Quadrat\u00edn Hispano will contribute professional expertise in journalism, newsroom innovation, content distribution and media partnerships.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Trilateral partnership with Universidad Latina de Am\u00e9rica and Quadrat\u00edn Hispano will advance journalism, research, media innovation, and cross-cultural understanding across the Americas JERSEY CITY, N.J. \u2013 September 21, 2026 \u2013 Saint Peter\u2019s University has announced the creation of the Inter-American Institute for Communication and Culture (IICC) (Instituto Interamericano de Comunicaci\u00f3n y Cultura), a new trilateral […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1293,"featured_media":13591,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,5,2,6],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-13588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-current-students","category-faculty-staff","category-future-students","category-press-release","tag-press"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSaint Peter\u2019s University Announces Creation of Inter-American Institute for Communication and Culture (IICC) - 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