UTSA Academy for Teacher Excellence hosts Summit on Latino Student Success

Top photo: Juan Sepulveda, director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, speaks from Washington, D.C., via Skype. Bottom photo: Three female pioneering panelists in the STEM fields read from a book profiling their accomplishments.

By Kris Rodriguez
Public Affairs Specialist

(June 10, 2010)--The UTSA College of Education and Human Development Academy for Teacher Excellence recently welcomed educational experts from across the nation for the inaugural two-day Summit on Latino Student Success. The summit provided an opportunity for professors, superintendents and educational researchers to discuss transforming STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) pedagogies and policies.

On the first day, Juan Sepulveda, director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, spoke to the conference. His comments were streamed using Skype technology software from his Washington, D.C., office.

Sepulveda discussed President Barack Obama's 2020 initiative to have the highest percentage of population in the world to earn a college degree. Currently, the United States is ranked No. 10 in the world in the number of undergraduate degrees produced. Sepulveda answered questions and invited attendees to submit STEM success stories in their universities and high schools to share with others for possible duplication.

"We want to see outcomes as a result of these critical analyses and dialogues to transform more Latino students in these STEM field areas," said Belinda Flores, summit organizer and principal investigator in the Academy for Teacher Excellence."

Another conference highlight was a panel discussion by three women who are pioneers in the STEM fields. Profiled in the book "Paths to Discovery: Autobiography from Chicanas with Careers in Science, Mathematics and Engineering," Elvia Niebla, Elma Gonzalez and Diana Marinez discussed obstacles and challenges they overcame to become professors and administrators in the areas of biology, biochemistry and global-change research.

In the final day of the conference, there were presentations on STEM policy implications at the state and national level by state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, state Rep. Mike Villarreal and Sarita Brown, executive director of Excelencia in Education.

To learn more about educational teaching opportunities, visit Academy for Teacher Excellence

Events

Monday, January 20, 10:00 a.m.

38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March

All UTSA students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families are invited to march with the UTSA delegation in San Antonio's 38th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March. Free transportation will be provided from the Main and Downtown Campuses.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King, Jr., San Antonio, TX

Tuesday, January 21, 8:00 a.m.

Early Bird Breakfast

Join the UTSA Alumni Association for free coffee and breakfast to celebrate the start of the fall semester.

Sombrilla Plaza

Wednesday, January 22, 9:00 a.m.

Coffee, Cocoa, and Wellbeing

Warm up with a hot cup of coffee or a hot chocolate with Wellbeing Services to kick off the start of the Spring Semester! The Wellbeing team will be in the Window Lounge to welcome you to the first day of classes and highlight our events and programs for the semester.

Dreamers Resource Lounge, Main Campus

Wednesday, January 22, 11:00 a.m.

¡HCAP Hola!

Join us in the HCAP Student Success Center for refreshments and get to know your HCAP Ambassadors, Peer Mentors, and staff!

HCAP Student Success Center (MS 2.02.36), Main Campus

Wednesday, January 22, 1:00 p.m.

Klesse College Welcome Back Bash - Spring 2025

Klesse College is excited to welcome back our Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design students! Join us for a fun day full of community, food, and fun events. Food is free for all KCEID Students. Come get your T-shirts and connect with student organizations.

Atrium, Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building, Main Campus

Wednesday, January 22, 2:00 p.m.

Alvarez Student Success Center Open House

Stop by the Alvarez Student Success Center to learn about our services, meet our staff, and grab some goodies! Students can earn Career Compass spirit points by taking a photo with our frame and uploading it to the app.

Alvarez Student Success Center (BB 2.01.08,) Business Building, Main Campus

Thursday, January 23, 11:00 a.m.

Get Involved Fair

Come meet student organizations and learn about different volunteering opportunities at the Spring 2025 Get Involved Fair.

HSU Ballroom (HSU 1.104-1.106,) Main Campus

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Spotlight

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.