Janie Hernandez-Perez has rightfully gained prominence in his country as a preservation architect, restoring many of Cartagena's colonial and early republication period buildings.  Instrumental in having Cartagena recognized as a World Heritage city through UNESCO (one of only two such cities designated in the western hemisphere), he has also served as mayor of the city, as lieutenant governor for the State of Bolivar, and as head of a regional telecommunications company.
Mr. Hernandez returns to UIUC, where he received a master's degree in architecture in 1982 to share his vision of this historic and beautiful Caribbean port city.