OCTOBER 4, 2021 — In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, UTSA is offering a mix of virtual and in-person events this week that dive into discussions about the Hispanic culture, diversity and inclusion in the community—all following the university’s theme of “Esperanza: A Celebration of Our Heritage and Bold Future.”
The university’s festivities, along with others held across the nation, started in September and will run through October 15, with UTSA’s events mirroring the national theme, and focusing on hope and heritage throughout the month.
Monday, October 4
Inspiring Radical Creativity—Empowering Young, Diverse Voices to Tell Their Own Stories: Keynote with Gabby Rivera
7 p.m., virtual event
Gabby Rivera, a Bronx-born, queer Puerto Rican writer, is the first Latina to write for Marvel Comics. During this keynote address, Rivera will unpack how she navigates the world as a queer, Latinx, millennial woman; how she incorporates her heritage into her writing; and celebrates the healing power of community. This free event is open to the San Antonio community. Interested attendees are asked to pre-register.
Wednesday, October 6
UTSA Racial Justice Book Club
2 to 3 p.m., virtual event
The club will be reading two books this year, starting in September with the autobiography I, Rigoberta Menchú. The October book will be Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. Students who join the UTSA Racial Justice Book Club are eligible to receive the books for free.
Thursday, October 7
Conversation with Sandra Cisneros
7 p.m., virtual event
Sandra Cisneros is a poet, short story writer, novelist, essayist, performer and artist whose work explores the lives of the working class. Her coming-of-age novel The House on Mango Street has sold over six million copies, has been translated into 25 languages, and is required reading in schools across the nation. Interested attendees for this interactive conversation with Cisneros are asked to pre-register.
Friday, October 8
Contemporary Hispanic Americans in Digital Media and Technology
10 a.m., Buena Vista Theater, Buena Vista Building, Downtown Campus (virtual option included)
Sponsored by UTSA University Technology Solutions, guest speakers Perla Garcia and Danielle Schramm will showcase important Hispanic Americans at the national level and discuss their contributions to technology and media.
We Too Were Once Young: The Legacy of Struggle of La Raza Unida Party
6:30 p.m., Buena Vista Theater, Buena Vista Building, Downtown Campus
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the first state convention of La Raza Unidad Party (RUP) in San Antonio, UTSA is hosting Ignacio Garcia, the Lemuel Hardison Redd Jr. Professor of Western and Latino History at Brigham Young University. He is the author of United We Win: The Rise and Fall of La Raza Unida Party.
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This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.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.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
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.
