UH Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies

Luis González, a University of Houston Exercise Science major graduating this spring, served as our Summer Intern in Student and Alumni Engagement.✨

Throughout the summer, Luis helped welcome prospective students and supported efforts to create meaningful opportunities for students, alumni and community supporters to connect with CMALS. With plans to attend physical therapy school after graduation, Luis brings a genuine heart for service and a strong commitment to giving back to his community. 🐾❤️

Meet Mayra “May” Garcia, our Communications Coordinator and a proud Academic Achievers Program (AAP) alumna!

Mayra’s connection to CMALS began during her undergraduate years at the University of Houston, where she majored in Corporate and Strategic Communication and interned right here at the Center. Today, she brings that experience full circle, working tirelessly to capture and share the stories that make CMALS special. From student life and academic achievement to our programs, events and community impact, May has a refreshing way of highlighting it all. We’re proud to have an AAP alumna now helping tell the story of the community that once helped shape her own journey.

🎉AAP Alumni Mixer Recap! 🎉

✨🇲🇽 The Center for Mexican American & Latino/a Studies was honored to participate in the “Reunión con Mujeres de la Comunidad Mexicana de Houston” hosted by the Mexican Consulate. 🤝

During the event, CMALS had the opportunity to meet and speak with the newly appointed Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, Roberto Lazzeri Montaño, about the Center and its initiatives. 🌎📚

We extend our sincere appreciation to Consul General María Elena Orantes for the invitation and support. We look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership in advancing the Center’s mission and strengthening our community. 🌟❤️

"I am a Construction Management Major set to graduate in May 2027 and over the summer I had the opportunity to intern at Baytown Habitat for Humanity, a non profit organization that builds affordable homes for families in need in the greater Baytown area. I followed under the Construction Manager for the organization with various tasks such as scheduling, planning, outreach, and anything involving the construction operations of the current project home.

Additionally, on the weekends I would go out with the volunteers and actually contribute labor in building the current house which was both fun and insightful in truly understanding the necessities needed for a home to feel and look like one for the family. Overall, I am grateful to have been presented this opportunity since it really connected a lot of the ideas and teachings I have gained within classes to a practical matter that can truly make an impact within communities and families. Moving forward I will continue at Baytown HFH as the Construction Coordinator Intern and carry out the same duties as mentioned with the end goal of delivering an amazing home to a family that deserves it."

We're incredibly grateful to O'Connell Robertson for their generous donation of professional attire to support our Academic Achievers Program (AAP) students as they prepare for internships, interviews, and their future careers.✨

A very special thank you to our AAP alumna, Cindy Villarreal, for coordinating this meaningful opportunity and helping connect our students with resources that build confidence and open doors to success.

Your generosity and commitment to empowering the next generation of professionals truly makes a difference.

Thank you for investing in our students and in their future! ❤️

🎉 Congratulations to Jose Jimenez on being selected as a recipient of the Undergraduate MALS Minor Scholarship Award! 🌟

Jose’s journey—from immigrating to the U.S. as a teenager with no English experience to becoming a first-generation University of Houston student and mentor—is a powerful example of resilience, determination, and giving back. Through CMALS, he found a community that helped him thrive, and now he’s paying that support forward while pursuing a career in technology to make learning about our culture more accessible.

We are incredibly proud of all you’ve accomplished, Jose, and can’t wait to see the impact you’ll continue to make. Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement! 👏🎓❤️