Welcoming Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to UTSA
January 25 will be a special day as we welcome Sonia Sotomayor to UTSA.
To have a Supreme Court justice speak on our campus is certainly exciting. But I am especially pleased to host Justice Sotomayor, a first generation college student and the first Latina on the High Bench. Her background mirrors that of many in our Roadrunner community, making her an extraordinary role model for our students.
Efforts to arrange this visit started several years ago with an invitation to the Justice to speak at one of our commencement ceremonies. Though it didn’t align with her schedule at the time, the initial outreach and recent follow-up resulted in the inclusion of UTSA on her travel calendar.
Having a national figure such as Justice Sotomayor on our campus is not only a wonderful opportunity for students, but also a sign that UTSA is on a positive trajectory as a multicultural discovery enterprise. Nationally recognized speakers can (and should) be regular occurrences at outstanding universities, and we have plans in the works to host more of them.
But, these events also come with a lot of work to prepare an exemplary experience for both the speaker and the audience. I am grateful to Albert Carrisalez, Assistant Vice President for Governmental Relations, for his leadership in securing Justice Sotomayor’s appearance. In addition to Albert’s efforts, there are several groups on campus working hard to ensure her visit is a success, including the offices of Event Management and Conference Services, Student Affairs, University Communications and Marketing, the Police Department, Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management, and the President’s Office. My thanks go to all the staff involved.
Seats will be very limited for Justice Sotomayor’s talk. If you plan to attend, please be sure to review the information on our website for important logistical information. Though she will be unable to comment on past or pending cases, statutes, or proposed legislation, she will have much to share regarding her personal journey that is sure to inspire.
Welcome to Roadrunner Nation, Justice Sotomayor!
