CATIE launches campaign to strengthen the Miley González Scholarship Fund for Indigenous Peoples  

• A fundraising campaign organized by the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), The Tropics Foundation, and Friends of Costa Rica.

Want to make a significant difference this International Day of Indigenous Peoples? CATIE, The Tropics Foundation, and Friends of Costa Rica are launching a fundraising campaign to provide a full scholarship to a student from an indigenous community, in Latin America and the Caribbean, enabling them to pursue their graduate studies at the headquarters located in Turrialba, Cartago.  

The campaign will kick off during the celebration of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples on August 9th.  

CATIE is one of the most prominent higher education research institutions in Latin America, with over 10,000 research publications and more than 3,000 master's and doctoral graduates. Unfortunately, 70% of the students accepted to study at CATIE cannot afford their studies.  

This campaign, supported by generous donors, aims to reverse that trend. The week-long campaign, organized by CATIE and its partners The Tropics Foundation and Friends of Costa Rica,, will be active from August 7th to August 11th, 2023, with the goal of raising $35,000.00. This amount would triple the funds raised in previous years, with the hope of supporting a full scholarship for a student to pursue an advanced degree at CATIE. 

The fund was established in 2020 in memory of Dr. I. Miley González. Dr. González had a long and distinguished career spanning over four decades in higher education and government, including his service as the deputy director-general of CATIE and dean of the Graduate School.  

In addition to his service at CATIE, Dr. González held positions at Montana State, New Mexico State University, the University of Arizona, Pennsylvania State University, and Iowa State University. 

A highly sought-after academic, Dr. González was nominated by former U.S. President Bill Clinton to serve as Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a position he held from 1997 to 2001. In this role, he oversaw the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 

Additionally, Dr. González was a member of the National Banking Board, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, the Farm Credit Corporation, the White House Initiative on Hispanic and Native American Education, and the U.S./China Commission on Science and Technology. For over 15 years, he served on the executive team of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities at the USDA, representing NMSU. Hispanic Business magazine recognized him as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States. 

He was born in Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, Texas, which is recognized as a Native American tribal entity, and spent many years of his life advocating for the rights of indigenous communities. 

"The Miley González Scholarship changed my life," said Montserrat Villafuerte, the current Miley González scholar, who is studying climate change and market volatility at CATIE. "I would have never had the opportunity to pursue a master's degree without the support of the scholarship. I am excited to return to my community in Chiapas, Mexico, after graduation and teach farmers how to bring their products to the market more sustainably." 

Institutions throughout the Americas have joined CATIE and The Tropics Foundation to share this critical campaign with their networks.  

The campaign will be active from August 7th to August 11th, 2023, in honor of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples on August 9th, 2023. 

On this site, you will find more information about the campaign, as well as the link for donations and scholarships. 

About CATIE 

CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) is an academic center for innovation and sustainable development addressing issues related to agriculture, management, conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources. Our mandate covers the Latin America and Caribbean region. For 50 years, we have combined education, research, and outreach to promote Inclusive Green Development, leading to increased human well-being and reduced rural poverty. 

About The Tropics Foundation 

Established in 1998, The Tropics Foundation is a globally connected and trusted non-profit organization that drives sustainable agricultural development and conservation of natural resources in the American Tropics through investments in students, research, and community outreach with our partner, CATIE. Our work promotes nature-based solutions to combat climate change, reverse biodiversity loss, and build equitable and inclusive communities. For more information, visit tropicsfoundation.org, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and watch stories about our work on YouTube.