AUSTIN, Texas—Professional development to help Hispanic employees obtain better and higher-paying jobs at The University of Texas at Austin will be the focus of the UT Austin Hispanic Faculty/Staff Association’s Third Annual Conference on June 8 in Austin.
Dr. Antonio R. Flores, Ph. D., president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) will be the keynote speaker for the 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. conference in the UT Austin Student Services Building, 100-B. W. Dean Keeton Street. The conference, titled Past/Future: Unlocking a Decade of Latino Involvement, Partnerships and Unity, is free and open to the public but space is limited and reservations must be made by June 1. For reservations information, contact Elvia Rosales at (512) 471-6209 or send an email to <erosales@mail.utexas.edu>.
HFSA Staff Co-Chair David Méndez, Ph. D., said, "The conference is a fantastic opportunity to acquire and develop new skills, but most of all, to network with members of the HFSA familia (family)." He said that 10 years ago, a representative group of five faculty members and administrators gathered to discuss issues pertaining to the representation, development and advancement of Hispanics on the UT Austin campus. Since then, HFSA has evolved into a dynamic and vibrant professional organization with more than 125 members representing the Hispanic faculty and staff at the University. Besides board activities, community involvement and monthly meetings, HFSA provides the opportunity for its members to participate in committees for programs on scholarships, holiday assistance, Cinco de Mayo, a holiday fiesta and the annual leadership conference.
The conference this year will include sessions on issues such as multicultural relationships, preparing children for the new millennium and research funding opportunities. It also will address planning for college, preparations for tenure and the impact of Mexican Americans on the Texas Legislature as demographic changes strengthen their voting power. Latin American initiatives involving UT Austin and a look toward the future of Latino involvement at the University will be included in the afternoon discussion sessions.
Presenters during the conference will include UT Austin professors and other professionals with expertise in law, business, communication, government and other fields of study.
A reception following the conference will honor Susana I. Aleman, J.D., assistant dean for student affairs at the UT Austin School of Law, and Charles A. Roeckle, Ph. D., deputy to the president at UT Austin.
For further information, contact David Méndez of HFSA at (512) 232-1809.
