On July 1, Ricardo Martinelli was inaugurated as president of the Republic of Panama during a ceremony at the Atlapa Congress Center in Panama City. His term will run from 2009-14. President Martinelli serves on the SMU International Center Advisory Council, and his son, Luis, is a 2004 graduate of SMU. Michael Clarke, executive director of the International Center, represented SMU at the inauguration ceremony and at the reception that followed.