Obama Recruits UT Brownsville President Juliet V. Garcia To His Transition Team
How is Barack Obama going to change this country? Well, for starters, he asked the first Mexican-American female president of a four-year university to join his transition team to the White House. Dr. Julieta V. Garcia, (pictured in red), president of the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College told The Brownsville Herald she received the call this morning.
We have no idea what a transition team is, but hot damn, we’ll take it. This could have serious implications for the border wall situation, especially in Texas, where Dr. Garcia’s school is directly affected. Garcia has been an outspoken opponent of the structure as she hails from a region that depends economically on the flow of commerce to and from Mexico. Not to mention the fact that the original border wall plan had it cutting though half her campus. Obama and Garcia met in February while the then candidate was campaigning for the primaries. We feel safe in assuming the border wall is one of his chief interests in bringing Garcia aboard. Education and Latino outreach are, no doubt, also two huge issues of her expertise. Below, video of Obama walking around the Sombrero Festival in Brownsville in February of this year, shaking hands and eating a gordita. Mmmmm….change is good.
Garcia on Obama’s team [The Brownsville Herald]
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- Managing Editor
Daniel Mauser
- Editor
Cindy Casares
- Associate Editor
Alex Alvarez
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Gabriel Caro - Camilla Rowan
- Video Editor
Marcelo Cunning
slow day G-bee?
Posted by la roncha | November 06, 2008
I hope you’re saying that because we haven’t posted in 3 hours and not because of this very exciting news.
Posted by La Cindy | November 06, 2008
@la roncha: I have to agree with Cindy. This announcement is significant. This election season has been especially hard on women (hang in their Hillary and Sarah), so I’m glad that Obama is being inclusive. And the fact that Garcia is a Hispanic American woman is just sensational. I actually got to meet her in person a few years ago through a close academic friend who works for UTPA in McAllen, but, that’s another story. Juliet is intelligent and articulate. I think she is an excellent choice. However … I should point out that my friend and a few other academics don’t seem to like her. Hmmm, is she as corrupt as some RGV politicians? Maybe Cindy can provide us with some juicy details.
Posted by Guana Bust A Nut | November 06, 2008
Cindy.. im talking about no post.. I’m been bored off my ass here at work, with nothing to read online.
Posted by la roncha | November 06, 2008
Actually, he was eating a torta.
Posted by carlos | November 06, 2008
its good to know she’ll be on there, maybe she can finally get some money for the university, since the ut system doesnt fund the university…..the whole border wall issue is a HUGE deal, it will cut the campus, and as a student there, i hope Garcia actually brings good back to utb.
Posted by shmandy | November 07, 2008
Actually, she is not the first Mexican-American to head a four year college or university. I think that it was Tomas Rivera, who was chancellor of UC Riverside from ‘79-‘84. I think she’s the first woman college president.
Learn more about Tomas Rivera here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom%C3%A1s_Rivera
And please give him credit where it is due. He was also from South Texas.
Posted by adriana | November 08, 2008
Sorry that should have said Woman. First Mexican-American Woman.
Posted by La Cindy | November 09, 2008
Tomas Rivera Elementary in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by jrod | November 10, 2008