Category Archives: Author / Scholar Visit

Jose de la Luz Saenz Lecture Series Presents – Dr. Edward Westermann

Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

The Center for Mexican American Studies and Library Services presents “José de la Luz Saenz Veterans Lecture Series” an author talk followed by a book signing with Dr. Edward Westermann, his lecture entitled “Drunk on Genocide? Alcohol and Atrocity in the Holocaust“.  The event will take place, Wednesday, November 14 at 6:00 pm at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room.

National Poetry Month Lecture Series Presents Jose Antonio Rodriguez

Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

April is National Poetry Month it is the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry’s important place in our culture and our lives.

Please join us, April 19, 2018 at the Mid-Valley Campus Auditorium G-191 at 10 am, then at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room at 6 pm as we welcome Jose Antonio Rodriguez, he will be talking to us about his book “House Built on Ashes: A Memoir”

José Antonio Rodríguez, born in Mexico and raised in south Texas, is the author of the memoir House Built on Ashes and the poetry collections The Shallow End of Sleep and Backlit Hour.  His awards and honors include the Bob Bush Memorial Award from the Texas Institute of Letters; a finalist citation for the 2014 Paterson Poetry Prize, a finalist citation for a 2017 International Latino Book Award, the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award from the Paterson Literary Review, the Founders’ Prize from RHINO, multiple nominations for the Pushcart Prize, and the Clifford D. Clark Doctoral Fellowship from Binghamton University, where he earned a Ph.D. in English and Creative Writing. He is also a member of the Macondo Writers Workshop and CantoMundo. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, POETRY, The New Republic, The Texas Observer, Huizache, the Poetry Society of America online, and elsewhere. Currently, he is Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

Women’s History Month Jovita Gonzalez Lecture Series

Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Pecan Campus, Previous Events, Starr County Campus

March is Nationally recognized as Women’s History Month, South Texas College Libraries will be hosting several events to celebrate Women’s History Month.  We begin with Ms. Barbara Cigarroa, Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 6:00 pm at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room.  She will be speaking to us about her book “A Mexican Dream and Other Compositions”  presents a rare collection of interwoven essays chronicling the fascinating history of the Cigarroa family and their influence on the Texas-Mexico border landscape.

Barbara González Cigarroa brings to life stories of her ancestors and other family members, including: Rebecca Iriarte, who raised her five children during the Mexican Revolution of 1910; Judge Manuel J. Raymond, one of the last of the border patrones who expertly navigated contrasting cultures across border lines; Henry B. González, US Congressman and the first Mexican American elected to the Texas Senate during a time of blatant racial discrimination; Dr. Joaquin González Cigarroa Jr., a revered physician and education activist; Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, pediatric transplant surgeon and former chancellor of the University of Texas system; Barbara Flores Cigarroa, a mother of ten whose values and resolve inspired her children and many grandchildren to excel in the finest universities and beyond.  In presenting richly detailed vignettes with keen observation and grace, Cigarroa offers captivating and original insights not only into her family’s remarkable story, but also into the beauty of the extraordinary traits and enduring spirit of the people of our Texas borderlands

We continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, Dr. Sandra Ledesma will be presenting her book, “Bombolai” on Monday, March 19, 2018 at 1:00 pm at the Mid-Valley Campus Auditorium (G-191), then at 6:00 pm at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room.  We conclude with at the Starr County Campus Auditorium, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 1:00 pm. Her book is a  collection of funny stories, that make you laugh, think and reflect. The stories are somewhat feminist, but with warm love with the many teachings from ancestors and semi-modern Mexican wit that strengthens wisdom and the desire to live life fearlessly with not too much or a lot on hand.

For more information, please contact, Angelica Maria Garcia amgarcia@southtexascollege.edu or at 956-872-2277

Flyer for Black History Month

Black History Month

Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Pecan Campus, Previous Events, Starr County Campus

The South Texas College Library has a variety of activities scheduled throughout the month of February to celebrate Black History Month. Festivities kick off on Wednesday, February 7, with guest speaker presentation from Dr. Dawson Barrett, Youth Activism from SNCC to Black Lives. The presentations will be at 6:00 p.m. at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room.

The celebration continues on throughout the month. On Monday, February 12 at 10:00 am, at the Pecan Campus Library in F-102 we will be showing the documentary I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO.  An Oscar-nominated documentary narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO explores the continued peril America faces from institutionalized racism. I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO is a journey into black history that connects the past of the Civil Rights movement to the present of #BlackLivesMatter. It is a film that questions black representation in Hollywood and beyond. And, ultimately, by confronting the deeper connections between the lives and assassination of these three leaders, Baldwin and Peck have produced a work that challenges the very definition of what America stands for. There will be a second showing of I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO on Tuesday, February 13 at 1:00 pm at the Pecan Campus Library in F-102. 

On Thursday, February 15 at 6:00 pm, the Pecan Campus  Auditorium in building D we will be showing Oscar Nominated film GET OUT. Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy and Dean. At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he never could have imagined.  There will also be a brief introduction and a Q&A after the film.

On Wednesday, February 21 at 10:00 am, the Starr Campus Library and at 6:00 pm at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room, will be hosting Dr. Marcia Walker-McWilliams author of the book Reverend Addie Wyatt.  Labor leader, civil rights activist, outspoken feminist, African American clergywoman–Reverend Addie Wyatt stood at the confluence of many rivers of change in twentieth century America. The first female president of a local chapter of the United Packinghouse Workers of America, Wyatt worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and Eleanor Roosevelt and appeared as one of Time magazine’s Women of the Year in 1975.

Also on Wednesday, February 21 at 12:00pm, at the Mid-Valley Campus Library in A-105, we will be showing the documentary I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO.  An Oscar-nominated documentary narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO explores the continued peril America faces from institutionalized racism. I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO is a journey into black history that connects the past of the Civil Rights movement to the present of #BlackLivesMatter. It is a film that questions black representation in Hollywood and beyond. And, ultimately, by confronting the deeper connections between the lives and assassination of these three leaders, Baldwin and Peck have produced a work that challenges the very definition of what America stands for.

To conclude the events for Black History Month, on Tuesday, February 27 at 6:00 pm, the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room, we there will be a Round Table Debate: “Is Libertarianism Inherently Racist?” with John Terry, Dr. Aaron Wilson, William Greene and Dr. Andres Molina.

For more information on the events please contact, Angelica Maria Garcia at 956-872-2277 or via email amgarcia@southtexascollege.edu

 

Jose de la Luz Saenz Lecture Series Presents – Dr. Anthony Quiroz

Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

The Center for Mexican American Studies and Library Services presents “José de la Luz Saenz Veterans Lecture Series” an author talk followed by a book signing with Dr. Anthony Quiroz, his lecture entitled “Let All of Them Take Heed” Activism and the Ongoing Struggle for Equality.  The event will take place, Wednesday, November 8 at 6:00 pm at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room.

Hispanic Heritage Month Lecture Series – Jennifer De Leon

Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

Please join us, Thursday, October 5, 2017, at the Mid-Valley Campus Auditorium G-191 at 10:00 am and Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room at 6:00 pm

Jennifer De Leon is an author, editor, speaker, and creative writing instructor who lives in Boston. She is the editor of Wise Latinas: Writers on Higher Education, published by the University of Nebraska Press, and the 2015-2016 Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library. After a decade teaching in Boston Public Schools and Teach For America, De Leon is now a freelance writer, editor, and a consultant, and a creative writing instructor at Emerson College, GrubStreet Independent Creative Writing Center, and elsewhere. She also has an active career as a public speaker on issues of diversity, college access, and the power of story. She has presented at dozens of colleges and universities around the country, including Dartmouth, Fordham, Tufts, Swarthmore, and others. She lives in Milton with her husband, fiction writer and educator, Adam Stumacher, and their son.

Hispanic Heritage Month Lecture Series – Valentin Sandoval

Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Pecan Campus, Previous Events, Starr County Campus

Please join us, Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at the Mid-Valley Campus Auditorium G-191 at 3 pm, Wednesday, October 4 at the Starr County Campus Library at 10:00 am and Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room at 5:00 pm

Mr. Valentin Sandoval was born in Juarez, Mexico. He currently lives in El Paso, Texas and is a commercial videographer.  He studied film at the University of Texas-El Paso, but his film-making skill and style is mostly self-taught, honed by hands-on work experience with writer/documentarian Jimmy Santiago Baca, cinematographer Lee Daniel and Emmy-winning documentary filmmakers Paul Espinosa. His book South Sun Rises is a poetic narrative of a pursuit of the American dream on one of the world’s most compelling and dangerous international borderlands, El Paso/Juarez. Reminiscent of Jimmy Baca’s epic poem, “Martin and Meditations in the South Valley, it has a narrative arc expressed in a series of long and short poems. It is the story of Sandoval’s mother’s quest to define her identity and provide the foundation for a family in the United States

From Wrestling Cows to Educating Astronauts to Writing LesFic: “A Tale of Taking the Less Obvious Career Path”

Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

Lacey L. Schmidt, Ph.D. is an Industrial-Organizational Psychology consultant who specializes in team building and leadership assessment and development. She conducts individual assessments as well as designs and implements assessment centers and work samples to help clients make key hiring, promotion, and training and development decisions. She also conducts organizational development assessments and provides coaching to leaders.

Dr. Schmidt has worked with a variety of organizations from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies as an internal and external consultant as well as an operational leader. She has assessed and coached thousands of manager, director, and executive level candidates (including astronaut candidates and executive chefs), designed and validated numerous assessment tools and processes, implemented award-winning organizational development initiatives to achieve significant P&L improvements, and facilitated ultra high-performance teamwork across industries in extreme environments. Prior to co-founding Minerva Work Solutions, she served as the Senior Scientist for Astronaut Selection and Training with the Behavioral Health and Performance group at NASA-JSC.

Please join us, Monday, February 27, 2017 at 1:00 pm in the Pecan Campus Library 2nd floor.  There will be a book sale, for those interested in getting her book, she will also be available for book signing.

Event is being sponsored by the South Texas College English Department, Library Services, and the Student LGBTQ group, Open Equal & Free.

For more information please contact; Ms. Colleen Brooks, Faculty English Instructor 956-872-8348 cbedgar@southtexascollege.edu

Lacey-Schmidt

 

 

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the STC Libraries

Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Movies, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

hhm-2016-a

South Texas College’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month festivities will get underway on this September with several campus-wide activities, including the “Pláticas Sol de Aztlan Lecture Series” that will feature several award-winning authors.

Hispanic Heritage Month is officially celebrated across the country from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The STC library events during the month-long celebration are free and open to the public.

The guest speakers are sponsored by STC’s Library Services, Center for Mexican American Studies, the college’s Division of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the PUENTE Program.

We begin our festivities on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at 6:00pm at the STC Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room, with Dr. Mary Ann Villarreal.  Dr. Villarreal  grew up in Tivoli, Texas, a small town where Hwy 239 and Hwy 35 intersect in Refugio County. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and earned her Ph.D. in History from Arizona State University. Her area of study is U.S. history with a specialty in oral history. She previously held faculty positions at the University of Colorado, Boulder in the Department of History and at the University of Utah as a joint appointment in History and Ethnic Studies. She is currently Assistant Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, at California State University Fullerton.  She has authored and co-authored journal articles related to Mexican American women’s entrepreneurship, civil rights activism, and race/ethnic identity. Her recent manuscript, Listening to Rosita: The Business of Tejana (University of Oklahoma Press, October 2015) reveals how ethnic Mexican entrepreneurs developed a unique identity in striving for success in a society that demeaned and segregated them. In telling their story, this book adds a critical chapter long missing from the history of the West.  The event will be followed by a book sale and a book signing.

Monday, September 26, 2016, at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room at 1:00 pm, Ms. Amanda Jasso will be visiting us, Amanda is the Mexican American and Latin@ Community Archivist at the Austin History Center, Austin Public Library. She actively seeks out archival materials through outreach efforts and programming while also giving presentations, conducting oral history interviews, coordinating programs and events, providing reference service to the public and acting as a local subject specialist in the history of Austin and Travis County’s Mexican American communities. Born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, Amanda was compelled to learn about her father’s family history in Mexico, as well as their journey to Texas and the rich history of the Rio Grande Valley. While she studied Borderland Theory and Chicana feminism, it quickly became her goal to work with communities who are barred from access to resources in many forms, thus pushing her in the direction of preservation, access, information literacy and community engagement.  Amanda holds an MLIS from the University of Washington and a BA in Communication from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research and advocacy includes sustainable practices for serving immigrant communities and undocumented persons within public library systems and building upon the powerful link between archives, memory and identity formation. Amanda is also a member of the Austin Public Library’s Culture and Diversity Committee and currently serves as the Chair for the City of Austin Hispanic Network’s Community Engagement Committee.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016, at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room at 6:00 pm, we will have musical guests ” YETLANEZI” with their “Musica Pre-Hispanica”

To conclude the lecture series, author Stephanie Elizondo Griest, will give a presentation at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room on Oct. 20  at 6:00 pm. Her book Mexican Enough, won the PEN Southwest Nonfiction Book Award; and Best Women’s Travel Writing 2010 won Gold for Best Travel Essays in the Independent Publisher Book Awards. The event will be followed by a book sale and a book signing.

In addition to the “Pláticas Sol de Aztlan Lecture Series,” the South Texas College libraries will show the film, “Spare Parts” throughout the month October to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

For more information about these events and STC’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, visit http://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryevents or contact Angelica Maria Garcia at (956) 872-2277 or amgarcia@southtexascollege.edu.