Sonya Alemán will lead a virtual course about Selena's impact on Hispanic identity this summer. The course will be open to both UTSA students and the public.
APRIL 20, 2022 — UTSA will once again delve into the lasting impact of one music icon’s work on the Hispanic identity. “Selena: A Mexican American Identity & Experience” will return for the summer 2022 semester.
During the semester, students and the public at large can enroll in the course, which examines how the life and career of Selena Quintanilla embodies the historical trajectory of the Mexican American identity and experience in Texas.
Sonya M. Alemán will lead the virtual course, which will convene from 6 to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, beginning May 31 through July 5.
“The Selena course utilizes the iconic Selena Quintanilla as a launching point to talk about the histories and experiences of being Mexican American and Latina/o/x in the U.S,” said Alemán, associate professor and an instructor of Mexican American Studies in the UTSA College of Education and Human Development. “It also is intentionally crafted to honor the shared generational knowledge Selena’s array of fans carry about her significance, allowing students to co-construct the learning experience of the course, a unique aspect that many of those who have taken the course fully appreciated.”
The return of the course coincides with the singer’s 51st birthday and the return of the movie “Selena” into theaters in celebration of its 25th anniversary. The film offers an introduction of the Queen of Tejano to a new generation. Alemán anticipates this heightened interest and awareness of Selena will lead to a deeper look into the impact she had in our culture.
“Selena’s cultural work continues to inspire members of Latino communities to imagine, accept and become the best versions of themselves. The full significance of her reach and impact has not yet been fully realized or documented,” Alemán said. “This course is a small attempt to add to that effort, and I hope that by inviting members of the community to share the space with UTSA students in a more accessible summer course, it will enrich that conversation.”
This summer, the course will be available for audit, meaning that UTSA students and nonstudents can enroll in the course for no grade and no credit. Opening the course to the public offers a unique opportunity for the San Antonio community and the university.
“This allows us to link the Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality Studies (REGSS) Department and the Mexican American Program with the San Antonio community” said Alejandra Elenes, chair of the REGSS Department.
Those interested in auditing the course will need to fill out the audit form and submit it for approval.
The Selena course is aligned with UTSA’s history as an institution dedicated to the promise of social mobility and opportunity for San Antonio’s culturally rich, predominantly Mexican American population. As a Hispanic-serving, Tier One research institution that aims to become a model of student success, UTSA is developing and implementing policies, practices and support systems to intentionally promote Latino student success and remove barriers to graduation. These efforts are raising standards across the university, benefitting every student who attends UTSA.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
The UTSA Office of Undergraduate is proud to celebrate National Undergraduate Research with an annual event sponsored by the (OUR) featuring students will showcase undergraduate student research and creative endeavors from all disciplines across campus.
Various LocationsDía en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.
Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza, Main CampusFiesta Arts Fair features contemporary art from more than 100 artists from across the U.S., Fiesta favorite foods, drinks, live music by local and regional performers, and a Young Artists Garden providing opportunities for budding artists to learn, explore and express their creativity.
UTSA Southwest CampusJoin the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventThis event is to achnowlege the graduating seniors and induct the new cohart of scholars to our program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140,) Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
AlamodomeThe 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.
