Members of the research team for UTSA's Rockefeller Foundation-funded
study of San Antonio as a transnational community attended a news
conference and reception Thursday at the Downtown Campus. From left
are: Gilberto Hinojosa, University of the Incarnate Word; Marti Styles,
UTSA, Robert Milk, director of UTSA's bicultural-bilingual studies; Harriett
Romo, associate professor of sociology at UTSA and co-principal
investigator on the project; Arturo Madrid, Trinity University; Ellen Riojas
Clark, associate professor of bicultural-bilingual studies; and Jose Macias,
associate professor of bicultural-bilingual studies and co-principal investigator.
UTSA receives grant to study transnational community
(Jan. 31, 2002)--UTSA has received a one-year, $150,117 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to study the city's "transnationals" -- U.S. born-Mexican American residents and Mexican immigrants who also maintain a strong ethnic and cultural bond with Mexico while also living in the United States.
As part of "A Study of San Antonio as a Transnational City," UTSA faculty and students, particularly students who are pursuing doctorates in culture, literacy and language, and other area researchers will spend time in the San Antonio metropolitan community conducting life history interviews across all socioeconomic levels with generations of Mexican American families, when possible.
They will also create photo essays of those who live in this "transnational" world, incorporating copies of photographs from private family collections, when available. All materials collected will also be placed in the UTSA Archives, housed at the Institute of Texan Cultures, for use by other scholars.
According to UTSA Associate Professor of Sociology Harriett Romo, co-principal investigator for the project, their findings will be incorporated into new theoretical models of the way a city with a strong, dual Hispanic culture is formed. "We will be looking at the social and personal lives of San Antonio's native Mexican American residents and immigrants on both sides of the border," she said.
"Rather than bringing scholars in from other parts of the country for the project, our study will involve faculty and students from within UTSA, other San Antonio universities and UT-Austin," Romo added.
Jose Macias, associate professor of bicultural-bilingual studies, is Romo’s co-principal investigator, with bicultural-bilingual division director Professor Robert Milk providing guidance for the project. Faculty and students from the university's Mexican American studies program, and the departments of sociology; English, classics and philosophy; and visual arts will also participate.
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
King
William Winds quintet to perform Feb. 11 at UTSA
Perez
promoted to director of UTSA K-16 Initiatives
UTSA
to host Shakespeare colloquium for NISD students
UTSA receives grant to study transnational community
Massachusetts
diversity education expert to speak Feb. 8
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2001