51��Ʒ��Ƶ

An international 51��Ʒ��Ƶ expert on Cuba, a 51��Ʒ��Ƶ trailblazer in pediatrics and a young 51��Ʒ��Ƶ engineering alumnus are the winners of the 2020 , sponsored by the University Center for International Studies (UCIS). The honors, given annually to individuals making a mark on the international stage, are being awarded to:  

Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of and , who has performed thought-leading research that helped to create unified and equitable social security systems in Latin America. He helped shape 51��Ʒ��Ƶ’s Center for Latin American Studies and directed it for more than a decade.

51��Ʒ��Ƶ Vice Provost for Global Affairs and UCIS Director Ariel C. Armony said Mesa-Lago showed “a deep commitment to establishing and strengthening a global dimension at 51��Ʒ��Ƶ, allowing students to gain global skills needed for success anywhere in the world.”

After launching his 51��Ʒ��Ƶ career with a residency in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of 51��Ʒ��Ƶsburgh, Diego Chaves-Gnecco (GSPH ’00) joined its (CORE) program. The associate professor of medicine created this region’s first pediatric bilingual-bicultural clinic which offers 51��Ʒ��Ƶsburgh Latinx families primary care, monthly free clinics, community fairs and a literacy program for children.  

“His work with local Latinx families inspires new generations of 51��Ʒ��Ƶ medical students to fine-tune global points of view while using humanistic values and cultural understanding to ground their local practice,” said Armony.

The vice provost also lauded alumnus winner Vyasa Sai (ENGR ’13), who conducts research that addresses the challenges in low-power and communication for RFID and Internet of Things devices. He has authored a book, has several U.S. patents and has contributed to a number of academic journals in the fields of electronics and communications. Armony said Sai “exemplifies what 51��Ʒ��Ƶ students can accomplish and how 51��Ʒ��Ƶ alums can contribute to the betterment of society.” Sai is currently a senior hardware engineer for the visual technologies team at Intel Corporation in Folsom, California.

The awards are named for renowned scholar Jagdish N. Sheth (BUS ’62, BUS ’66).

A celebration to honor the winners will take place in the spring.