Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, the current administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, will speak at Northwestern University during the 43rd Annual William A. Patterson Distinguished Transportation Lecture. Scheduled for May 7 at 7:30 p.m., the event will take place at the Walter Athletics Center Auditorium in Evanston, Illinois.
Vásquez, who will remain in his role until 2026, plans to discuss the Panama Canal's historical and ongoing impact on global trade. Each year, the Canal processes over 500 million tons of cargo and more than 13,000 ships, contributing to about 5% of global trade. The Canal was operated by the United States from its opening in 1914 until control began transitioning to Panama in 1979. Panama gained full control in 1999.
Before his current position, Vásquez has held notable finance roles in both the public and private sectors. He served as the first non-U.S. chief financial officer for the Panama Canal and possesses several academic degrees, including advanced qualifications from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, North Carolina State University, and Villanova University.
The Patterson Transportation Lecture honors prominent transportation industry figures and is supported by the Patterson Transportation Endowment, founded in 1979 to commemorate William A. Patterson, who was the founder and CEO of United Airlines.
The Northwestern University Transportation Center, founded in 1954, hosts the lecture. Known for its interdisciplinary research, the Center focuses on the efficient movement of materials, people, energy, and information while engaging diverse stakeholders in the field.
Interested attendees are encouraged to register for the free event, which is open to the public. More information can be obtained by contacting 847-491-7287 or visiting the Transportation Center's website.
Media personnel are invited to attend, but should expect the discussion to focus on technical aspects of international trade rather than current political issues.