Page 1 - Noticias - Spring 2015

FROM THE DIRECTOR

This is the last time in what we have accomplished together. We offer a
I will address you as the minor in Mexican American Studies. We administer an
Director of the Center for undergraduate recruitment and retention program that
Mexican American Studies has won accolades from the State of Texas for its success
since I will be retiring in in graduating low income students. More than 30,000
August of this year. students have visited our campus through our college
I have served as the career days. We offer graduate fellowships to students
CENTER FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
VOLUME 13 Director of CMAS for seeking advanced degrees who may become the next
34 of my 40 years with generations of scholars in our field. We developed
ISSUE 1 Tatcho Mindiola, Ph.D. UH. In 1974, I was the a Visiting Scholars Program that fosters research,
first Mexican American publications and the possibility of employment at the
professor hired in the Sociology department. While University of Houston. CMAS established the UH series
SPRING there, I held a joint appointment in Mexican American in Mexican American Studies that publishes books that
Studies where I was responsible for developing new focus on Houston and Texas. We host annual lectures
2015 courses, serving on its committees, and being a liaison or conferences on a wide range of relevant topics and
with the Houston community. As a native Houstonian are a source of information for local, state, national and
and a UH graduate, I was elated to be working at at times international media. Importantly, we have also
my alma mater and being involved with Mexican secured endowments that are providing support for our
American Studies.. activities and will continue to do so in perpetuity.
When I became the Director of CMAS in 1980, the The Center has also engaged in research. During
Center had limited resources. But with the assistance the 1990’s we conducted a series of exit polls aimed at
of legislators, community leaders, students, colleagues, highlighting the Mexican American voter in comparison
corporations, and many others, we were able to secure to other groups. Some of the polls were conducted in
a financial base that enabled us to become one of the contentious local races. These surveys became popular
premier Centers in our field in the United States. None with the media given that no one else in city was taking
NOTICIAS
of our services would have been possible without the an in-depth look at our community’s vote. CMAS
assistance of a wide range of supporters who believe also surveyed the relationship between Hispanics and
in our mission. I am truly grateful for their assistance. African Americans that resulted in the book Black Brown
Their tangible and intangible support has allowed us to Relations and Stereotypes. In collaboration with HISD one
achieve excellence in our endeavors. of our Visiting Scholars conducted a drop out study.
As I review our groundbreaking efforts I take pride Others wrote books about Houston which are published
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Paula Mendoza

UH Regent and CMAS Supporter

The exceptional Paula M. Mendoza the full range of CMAS programs, it
is a native Houstonian and one of became apparent that CMAS offered,
its brightest stars. Well-known for in Mendoza’s own words “a complete
her passion for many causes, such package” for students: mentoring,
as education, the development career counseling, financial aid, and a
of resources and standards of supportive network of staff and other
excellence, professional ethics, and students engaged in the same endeavor,
law enforcement, Paula Mendoza has reaching for the same outcome.
touched many lives within the Latino Mendoza has volunteered on
and greater Houston communities committees and boards for an amazing
Ms. Mendoza became acquainted variety of Houston educational
with the CMAS mission about seven institutions and non-profits, such
years ago through her work with Paula Mendoza as Texas Southern University,
the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Association for the Advancement of
Commerce. Academic Achievers Program Mexican Americans, the Houston
Manager Rebeca Treviño asked Mendoza to speak Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the M.D.
at the annual Leadership Retreat at Camp Allen. Anderson YMCA.
Visiting with the young students that day and hearing Her appointments in several key positions have
their personal stories of accomplishment resonated given her a prominent public profile. For instance,
deeply within Mendoza. Part of the reason for that she served on the Texas State Board of Public
resonance originated in Mendoza’s own childhood Accountancy from 2003 to 2007. She was both
with parents who were themselves tremendous Chairman (2009-2010) and Commissioner (2007-
advocates for obtaining an education. However, as 2013) of the Texas Ethics Commission. In 2006-07,
Mendoza explains: “My parents were passionate about she served as chairman of the Texas Association of
education, but we still didn’t know about going to Mexican American Chambers of Commerce. In 2013,
college, or getting career counseling, or applying for she was named by then governor Rick Perry to the
scholarships.” As Mendoza became acquainted with University of Houston Board of Regents.

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