UTSA welcomes Texas higher education official

(July 29, 2004)--Officials of The University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the Alamo Community College District hosted a reception Wednesday evening at Club Giraud to welcome Raymund Paredes, the recently appointed commissioner of higher education of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Pictured (top photo) are Raymund Paredes (left) and Ricardo Romo. From left to right in the lower photo are Romo, Paredes, Coordinating Board member Cathy Obriotti Green, UTHSCSA President Francisco Cigarroa and ACCD Vice Chancellor/Workforce Federico Zaragoza.

"UTSA is honored to join the Health Science Center and ACCD as we hail the return of a Texan who dedicates his life to promoting education and opportunities for all citizens of the state," said UTSA President Ricardo Romo. "For so many supporters of education to be here this evening to welcome Raymund and his family is a testament to our community's support for him in his new job and for higher education."

Paredes previously served as vice president for programs at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF). Before joining HSF, he was director of creativity and culture at the Rockefeller Foundation, where he managed a budget of more than $20 million and the awarding of 200 grants annually in the arts and humanities to individuals and organizations around the world.

At UCLA, Paredes was a professor of English and for 10 years served as associate vice chancellor for academic development. He served as special assistant to the president of the University of California System.

Paredes was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and received a B.A. degree in English and a Ph.D. in American civilization from the University of Texas - Austin.

--Tim Brownlee