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From the Director

n this issue of Noticias Lorenzo Cano has been
II wish to acknowledge working for CMAS for 30 years. He
and commend the people is originally from Corpus Christi, and
who work for the Center for he came to Houston to attend UH,
Mexican American Studies. where he earned his B.A. in political
The success of any organi- science in 1974 and his M.A. in Urban Studies in
zation relies upon those who 1976. I met Lorenzo when he enrolled in one of the
Dr. Tatcho Mindiola implement the day-to-day frst classes I taught. He was a student leader and
Volume 10 tasks comprising the orga- an active member in the Mexican American Youth
Issue 2 nization’s mission. CMAS has been very fortu- Organization. I immediately recognized his lead-
nate throughout its forty-year history to have ership skills, intellect and commitment to raising the
sprIng employed people who feel they are advancing educational level of our community. We became
the educational status of the community. They friends and worked together as members of La Raza
2013 are essential to the Center’s existence through Unida Party. In 1982 Lorenzo joined CMAS as the
CENTER FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
their professional handling of scholarship student counselor and recruiter. He advised students,
checks, travel vouchers, personnel forms, mail- organized leadership retreats and workshops and
ings, appointments, class and travel schedules, helped students start organizations not only on
leafets, fnancial forms, rosters, reservations, campus but at high schools as well. He established
printing, meetings, phones, ordering offce relationships with the high schools that had large
supplies, out-of-town guests, etc. In fact, when Latino populations and began organizing the college
the Center was last audited, the state auditors said career days that continue to this day. In 1989 Lorenzo
we were a relatively small unit that processed an was promoted to Associate Director of CMAS, and
unusual amount of information in a very effcient his duties expanded to include teaching, developing
Noticias
manner–the best in the College of Liberal Arts our minor in Mexican American Studies and sched-
and Social Sciences. This is a tribute to all of the uling classes. He writes and publishes essays and is
people who work for CMAS. sought out by the media for his expertise in Mexican
What follows are brief comments about the and Mexican American affairs. Lorenzo Cano is a
staff and their responsibilities. major and invaluable part of CMAS history.
Continued on page 10
Glenn Godkin:

community Leader

rom Godkin’s youthful begin- knew if he worked hard and did
Fnings as one of four children well in his studies that he would
in the hardworking refnery have a successful career, because
town of Port Arthur to now, the the key to opportunity was being
constant has been his respect for well-educated. In fact, all of his
learning. In fact, if you want to brothers and one sister gradu-
see Godkin’s eyes sparkle, there ated from college and have had
is one topic guaranteed to have successful careers—a tribute to
this effect: education. his parents’ consistent message
Godkin himself says that even to value education.
as a young man he noticed that This commitment to his
education was the “great equal- own future propelled Godkin
izer” in American society. While into graduate studies at the
earning his bachelor’s degree in Southwestern Graduate School of
business administration from Banking at Southern Methodist
Lamar University in Beaumont, Glenn Godkin, Wells Fargo University in Dallas, Texas. His
he observed that none of his Regional President next step was a banking career,
professors ever asked about students’ personal lives began in 1973, with Texas Commerce Bank, where
or families of origin. Instead, they asked about he worked until joining Allied Bank in 1979. Later,
homework assignments, test preparation, and the Allied Bank was acquired by Wells Fargo. At
concepts in daily lessons. What was important was present, Godkin is a Wells Fargo Regional President
the learning that was taking place in the classroom, responsible for more than 200 Community Banking
not what kind of family was at home or which stores and $14 billion in assets. He leads a team of
neighborhood the student had grown up in. Godkin nearly 3,000 bankers.

Continued on page 11