Celebrating the Impact of Latinas on Education in Texas
Celebrating the Impact of Latinas on Education in Texas
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A collection of women who have made lasting contributions within the Hispanic/ Latinx community in Texas within the areas of social justice and access to higher education.
Norma Cantu
Norma Cantu
"I believe a future with equal opportunity is inevitable, and my job is to make the inevitable happen faster."
Elvia Perez
Elvia Perez
“I don’t know why people don’t get out and vote, but they don’t... It’s their opportunity to voice their opinion, to shape what happens in their community..."
Dr. Teresa Long
Dr. Teresa Long
“My parents instilled in me to give back to the community. If I was educated, I could give back... we are so interested in giving scholarships because we know what education can do.”
Carmen Danna
Carmen Danna
"...as Hispanics we need to learn to be proud of who we are and our culture and to not let anyone take that away from us, especially educational opportunities."
Norma Cantu
Norma Cantú, born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, overcame poverty through her family's emphasis on early education. She excelled in school and graduated from college at the young age of 19. Cantú went on to graduate from Harvard Law and returned to Texas to work for the Attorney General’s office. Her career then led her to MALDEF in San Antonio, where she played a key role in the landmark case LULAC v. Clements, which sparked the South Texas Border Initiative. The case challenged the inequitable distribution of higher education funds in Texas. Texas Legislature responded by allocating over $600,000 to support higher education in South Texas.
Cantú, N. (2017). Interview with Norma Cantú [Transcript]. Voces Oral History Project. https://voces.moody.utexas.edu/collections/stories/norma-cantu
Carmen Danna
Carmen Danna, originally from San Antonio and raised in Devine, TX recalls her high school experience where many of her teachers dismissed her potential, suggesting she was only suited to be a secretary and never discussing college as an option. Despite this setback, her parents encouraged her to pursue higher education, leading her to attend Southwest Texas Junior College, where she received a $500 scholarship. Danna highlights the lack of financial guidance she received in high school and emphasizes the importance of education, especially for Hispanic communities, reminding us of the importance of the South Texas Border Initiative. She is a community activist who urges Hispanics to value and seize educational opportunities.
Danna, C. (2019). Interview with Carmen Danna [Transcript]. Voces Oral History Project. https://voces.moody.utexas.edu/collections/stories/carmen-danna
Elvia Perez
Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, Pérez grew up in a family that valued education, even among difficult socioeconomic circumstances. Her path to graduation was derailed when her strong sense of social justice led her to join a walk out to protest the wrongful termination of a Hispanic teacher. Eventually, Pérez attended Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) and later went on to work in public education, where she became a strong advocate for Hispanic students and their access to higher education. Her work is deeply connected to her commitment to the South Texas region and its people, and she underscores the significance of community support and the belief that education is a transformative tool for social mobility and empowerment, highlighting the role activism plays in change.
Pérez, E. O. (2016). Interview with Elvia O. Pérez [Transcript]. Voces Oral History Project. https://voces.moody.utexas.edu/collections/stories/elvia-o-perez
Dr. Teresa Lozano Long
Dr. Teresa Lozano Long is a lifelong advocate for education and the arts in Texas. Born July 20, 1928, in Premont, South Texas, she grew up on her parents’ dairy farm where she was raised with a strong sense of education and philanthropy. She graduated from high school as valedictorian at age 16, and went on to earn bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from The University of Texas at Austin. She would become the first Mexican-American woman to earn a doctorate in health and physical education from the university. “To me, a student is a student. If a student is not progressing, you help that child... you do need to know something about their culture to know how to reach them.” Through her great success, Lozano Long has always stayed true to her roots, and poured generosity back into her community. She established a variety of scholarship funds, endowments and other philanthropic contributions to education, health and the arts. As a thanks for her efforts, UT names its Latin American Studies institute after her- the Lozano Long Institute for Latin American Studies.
Long, T. L. (2004). Interview with Teresa Lozano Long [Transcript]. Voces Oral History Project. https://voces.moody.utexas.edu/collections/stories/teresa-lozano-long
Now it's your turn:
Now it's your turn:
Below is a collection of archives, articles, and state associations dedicated to sharing the history of Texas women and education.
Using these resources, locate a Latina who has impacted education in the areas of activism, social justice, or equity in education.
Archives/ Collections
Archives/ Collections
The Handbook of Texas Women
The Handbook of Texas Women
As a part of our Handbook of Texas Women Project we will be adding to this content throughout the life of this project with the help of our members and educators like you.
Visit the Handbook of Texas Women
Texas State Historical Association
Texas State Historical Association
The mission of the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) is to “foster the appreciation, understanding, and teaching of the rich and unique history of Texas.
Benson Latin American Collection
Benson Latin American Collection
The Benson is a global destination for research and study, with over a million volumes of various media related to Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean and Latinx presence in the United States.
Visit Benson Latin American Collection
Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies
Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies
LLILAS and the Benson Latin American Collection host or have been partners in a broad array of digital projects and initiatives since the early 1990s. This page highlights some of these initiatives.
Articles
Articles
Women and Education
Women and Education
This article discusses the challenges women faced in gaining access to education and the strides they made in advancing educational opportunities for themselves and future generations, particularly in the context of gender and societal norms.
Higher Education
Higher Education
By: V. R. Cardozier
This article examines the development and evolution of postsecondary institutions in Texas, from the early establishment of colleges and universities to the expansion of the state's higher education system. It also highlights key issues such as access, funding, and the role of higher education in shaping Texas' economic and social landscape.
Associations
Associations
Hispanic Women's Network of Texas
Hispanic Women's Network of Texas
Our Purpose is to promote the advancement of women in public, corporate and civic life through education and personal and professional development.
Visit the Hispanic Women's Network of Texas
The Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education
The Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE) is dedicated to the improvement and advancement of education and employment opportunities for Latinos/Hispanics/Chicanos in higher education.
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