B.S. Applied Arts and Sciences, Class of 1997
Instructor, Department of English and Modern Languages since 2006
One of the first few Hispanic students to attend Lamar University in 1992
Interviewed by JaCoby Brocks on 03/3/2023
‘Many years ago in the nineties, when I became a Lamar student, Lamar University was together with LIT, it was Lamar University and the Lamar Institute of Technology. They were together since I was the last generation that graduated with an Associate Degree from Lamar Institute of Technology and Lamar University. And then, I completed the Bachelor’s degree over here at Lamar University. And when I graduated it was only Lamar University. It was a Bachelor in Applied Arts and Science. I selected that one because I was able to use a lot of the courses that I had taken in LIT (Lamar Institute of Technology).’
‘It (Lamar University) gave me a purpose, I wanted to teach and it was because I got my degree at Lamar. After I got my bachelor’s degree, I got a job as a Spanish teacher, but I came back to complete all the education courses, as a post-bachelor non-degree seeking student and I completed all the classes for pedagogy and earned my certification as a Texas educator. And Lamar was the one that nominated all of us, in this case, nominated me to become an educator in Texas. And that was a big impact on my life, because I was able to do things. Being a professional, but also share things that I really love, that it was part of my culture and my language, because I'm Hispanic and I speak Español, and I became a Spanish teacher. Yes, it was some something that I am so grateful to Lamar.’
‘When I came over here to Lamar University, I was one of the few Hispanics on campus. I guess when I came maybe they were like a 3 %. And I graduated in 1997. Then I came back as a faculty to teach Spanish over here at Lamar. And in 2006, 2007, it were 6 % Hispanic students over here. And right now, I am so proud of my university and my alma mater, because now we're getting to have 25 % almost Hispanic students. Diversity is growing, and that's good, because we can see people from different ethnic groups and a lot of international students also. And makes me very proud of my university. That long time ago, I was one of the few Hispanics working on campus and right now we have many faculty that are Hispanic and a lot of students, and I hope the President will reach the mark of being a Hispanic friendly institution.’