Rafael Rangel Sostmann
Encyclopedia
Rafael Rangel Sostmann (born 14 August 1941) is a Mexican
engineer and academic who served as rector
of the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM) since 1985 to 2011. He is a recipient of several honorary degrees, awarded, among others, by Georgetown University
(2008), the University of British Columbia
(2003), Arizona State University
(2004) and the Thunderbird School of Global Management
(2009); serves in the board of the World Bank Institute
and Cemex
; and he is a member of the Global Agenda Council on Education Systems at the World Economic Forum
. He announced his retirement as rector of the ITESM on June 21st 2010. On September 12th 2011, Salvador Alva Gómez was announced as the next rector
of the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM).
, into a family formed by Rafael Rangel Romo, a mining engineer from Aguascalientes
and co-proprietor of (a flour mill) and Josefina Sostmann. He undertook his secondary and preparatory studies in Parral at Instituto Regional, a school managed by the Society of Jesus
, and later moved to Monterrey
to enroll at the Monterrey Institute of Technology. At Tech he imposed a national record in the 400 meters dash
at the age of 22 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in 1965.
After his graduation he moved to the United States
, where he completed a master’s degree in Mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1966 and worked for two years as a development engineer for Honeywell
, in Minneapolis, before returning to Mexico and rejoining his alma mater in 1968 as an assistant professor. In Mexico, he lectured on automation
, machine instrumentation, and trained staff for the local industry before marrying Margaret “Peggy” Marshall, daughter of Dr. W. Robert Marshall, Jr., dean of engineering of UW–Madison, on 25 January 1969.
He went back to UW–Madison to complete his doctorate degree, which was awarded in 1973. Back in Mexico, he rejoined the Tech as an associate director of the recently created Querétaro campus
. Two years later, in 1975, he was appointed director and served in the post until 1979, when he was promoted to vice-rector for the central region, in charge of seven campuses. After the resignation of Fernando García Roel
in 1984, he was appointed rector of the Institute, at the age of 43. After 25 years as rector, on 21 June 2010, he announced his retirement.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
engineer and academic who served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM) since 1985 to 2011. He is a recipient of several honorary degrees, awarded, among others, by Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
(2008), the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
(2003), Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
(2004) and the Thunderbird School of Global Management
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Thunderbird School of Global Management is a private business school whose main campus is located in Glendale, Arizona. Founded in 1946 by retired U.S...
(2009); serves in the board of the World Bank Institute
World Bank Institute
The World Bank Institute is the capacity development branch of the World Bank. It provides learning programs, policy advice and technical assistance to policy makers, government and non-government agencies and development practitioners of developing countries...
and Cemex
Cemex
CEMEX is the world's largest building materials supplier and third largest cement producer. Founded in Mexico in 1906, the company is based in Monterrey, Mexico...
; and he is a member of the Global Agenda Council on Education Systems at the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
. He announced his retirement as rector of the ITESM on June 21st 2010. On September 12th 2011, Salvador Alva Gómez was announced as the next rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM).
Biography
Rangel was born in Parral, ChihuahuaParral, Chihuahua
Hidalgo del Parral, is a city and seat of the municipality of Hidalgo del Parral in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It is located in the southern part of the state, 220 km from the state capital, the city of Chihuahua, Chih....
, into a family formed by Rafael Rangel Romo, a mining engineer from Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 11 municipalities and its capital city is Aguascalientes....
and co-proprietor of (a flour mill) and Josefina Sostmann. He undertook his secondary and preparatory studies in Parral at Instituto Regional, a school managed by the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, and later moved to Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
to enroll at the Monterrey Institute of Technology. At Tech he imposed a national record in the 400 meters dash
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
at the age of 22 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in 1965.
After his graduation he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he completed a master’s degree in Mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1966 and worked for two years as a development engineer for Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
, in Minneapolis, before returning to Mexico and rejoining his alma mater in 1968 as an assistant professor. In Mexico, he lectured on automation
Automation
Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...
, machine instrumentation, and trained staff for the local industry before marrying Margaret “Peggy” Marshall, daughter of Dr. W. Robert Marshall, Jr., dean of engineering of UW–Madison, on 25 January 1969.
He went back to UW–Madison to complete his doctorate degree, which was awarded in 1973. Back in Mexico, he rejoined the Tech as an associate director of the recently created Querétaro campus
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Querétaro
The Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Querétaro Campus commonly shortened as Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Querétaro or ITESM Campus Querétaro, is a campus of the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education private university system in Santiago de Querétaro,...
. Two years later, in 1975, he was appointed director and served in the post until 1979, when he was promoted to vice-rector for the central region, in charge of seven campuses. After the resignation of Fernando García Roel
Fernando García Roel
Fernando García Roel was a Mexican chemical engineer. He served as the second rector of the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education ....
in 1984, he was appointed rector of the Institute, at the age of 43. After 25 years as rector, on 21 June 2010, he announced his retirement.