By Dick Mason

Observer Staff Writer

Khosrow Fatemi, Eastern Oregon University's next president, enjoys living on the edge.

The edge of an international border.

Fatemi is the head of San Diego State University's Imperial Valley campus, which is based in Calexcio, Calif. The city is a breath away from Mexico.

"My office is about seven blocks from the (California-Mexico) border,'' Fatemi said.

Fatemi embraces multiculturalism. One thing he plans to do at EOU is boost involvement in international exchange programs. Fatemi wants students and faculty to have more opportunities to study and teach abroad.

Last year, 7 percent of Imperial Valley's students and faculty participated in international programs. They took or taught classes abroad and participated in international conferences.

Fatemi, who grew up in Iran, believes international programs are critical because after students graduate they will compete in a global economy.

Fatemi will take over as EOU's next president on May 26. He spoke at a public reception at Foley Station on Wednesday.

Fatemi has served as the head of San Diego State University's Imperial Valley campus since 1998. Prior to taking his present position, he served as dean of the College of Business Administration and Graduate School of International Trade and Business Administration at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas. Laredo, like Calexico, is also on the Mexican border — so close that a bridge connects Laredo and Mexico.

Fatemi's move to La Grande means that he and his wife, Marcella, will not be living on the Mexican border for the first time in about 10 years. Fatemi said he will not miss the blazing summer temperatures he regularly encountered in Calexico. Temperatures there sometimes soar to 120 degrees.

How often?

"Not often, but often enough,'' Fatemi said.

Fatemi has written extensively about international trade and business. He is the editor of 10 books and the co-editor of three others. He is also the author of numerous articles in professional journals and seven book chapters.

The time he spends writing has been reduced significantly since moving into university administration.

"I've been so busy. My next book will probably be my last,'' Fatemi said.

That book is one he is now completing about trade relations with East Asia.

Fatemi and his wife live in the rural Calexico, a city of 28,000, where they both enjoy gardening.

"We enjoy the peace and tranquility,'' he said.

In La Grande the Fatemis hope to buy a home and property that will also have acreage for gardening.

The Fatemis plan to live in the La Grande home provided to EOU's president until they sell their house in California. Khosrow Fatemi said he wants to buy a home that is better suited for entertaining than the house provided to EOU

presidents.

Fatemi is excited about coming to La Grande but said that leaving SDSU's Imperial Valley campus, which has 1,000 students, will be difficult.

"I have had a fantastic experience; it has been fun and I've enjoyed my stay. There were not any reasons to leave, there was no push factor,'' Fatemi said.

Still, EOU beckoned.

"There were strong reasons to come here. Professionally this is a tremendous opportunity. Eastern Oregon University has tremendous potential,'' Fatemi said.