In 2019, distinguished Panamanian economist Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, PhD, ’73 CLAS took the helm as administrator of the Panama Canal, a critical component of global maritime trade that’s often credited as the world’s most important waterway. Taking on this role during a period of unprecedented growth for the Canal, Dr. Vásquez oversaw a record amount of cargo make its way through the 50-mile-long waterway, generating $3.9 billion of revenue last year alone.

In 2022, as part of the College of Engineering’s Patrick J. Cunningham Jr. and Susan Ward ’80 Endowed Lecture Series in Engineering, Dr. Vásquez talked about the delicate balance of economics and engineering required to sustain this sort of growth while protecting the already-scarce water supply in the region.