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Home : Alumni

Alumni

Since its inception in 1972 the Department of Chicano Studies has graduated 45 majors and 44 minors. We are proud of every single one of them. With the launching of our new website and online newsletter we welcome you to a new era in the department's history, one in which we hope to see many new and exciting developments for our students and the greater Chicano-Latino community in Minnesota. We hope that as an alumni and supporter of the department you will be an active member of the extended familia and share ideas for the department's direction and growth as we strive to educate, engage, and enhance the profile of Chicanos and Latinos in this state. Now, perhaps with a greater sense of urgency than ever before, as we assume our status as the nation's largest minority group, it is important that we accomplish our mission, as well as set and meet high standards of achievement for ourselves, our students, and our community.

Alumni Updates

Stay connected and tell us what you are doing!

We are currently working towards strengthening and deepening our connections with you, our Alumni, the ones who are making positive change in our communities today.

Because of this effort, we are building our Alumni database and we would like to request updates from you. Please take a brief moment to fill out and submit our secure form to us at chicstud@umn.edu.

News & Events

• Find out how to become a registered alumnus of the U of M and alumni benefits at the alumni website.
• Make a gift to the Department of Chicano Studies.
• Visit our online newsletter to learn about the latest developments in Chicano studies at UM

Remember to check out our event calendar to see what important Chicano-Latino related events are scheduled at the University and in the community. To have an event posted on our calendar, e-mail Edén Torres.

Help Form a Chicana/o Studies Alumni and Amigas/os Group!

The Department of Chicano Studies is currently seeking support from its past alumni, friends and allies. Through research, we have seen a national trend where alumni and friends of the program form support groups to enhance the workings of the department. Similarly, we in the Department of Chicano Studies are calling all interested parties in joining together to form a Chicana/o Studies Alumni and Amigas/os Group.

The purpose of the U of Mn Chicana/o Studies Alumni and Amigas/os Group would be to organize Chicana/o and Latina/o Alumni and other friends of the U of Mn's Department of Chicano Studies for the benefit and advancement of the Chicana/o and Latina/o community, alumni, students, faculty, and staff.

Possible Goals for the Group to Pursue

• To provide an opportunity for Alumni to take advantage of the social, intellectual, cultural, and educational resources at the U of Mn via the Department of Chicano Studies.
• To promote access to the U of Mn's academic, administrative, and economic resources for the advancement of the Chicana/o and Latina/o community.
• To promote the recruitment, retention and success of Chicana/o and Latina/o students, faculty, and staff at the U of Mn.
• To provide financial, academic, social, and professional support to Chicana/o and Latina/o students, faculty, and staff.

Some Advantages to Alumni and Friends

Gain Exposure - by recruiting new members to the organization and hosting events, alumni and supporters will be able to develop more social, professional, and cultural networks.

Increase University Relations Know-How - through recruiting and ensuring the success of new students and staff to the U of Mn and with the Department of Chicano Studies, alumni and friends will increase their knowledge of key university relations and higher education development strategies.

Enhance Advocacy and Community Relations - alumni and friends, while working with the community promoting issues of interest and importance to the Chicana/o Studies Alumni and Amigas/os Group, will deeply enhance their understanding of and work with public policy and Chicana/o and Latina/o educational issues.

Improve Financing Strategies - through raising funds to establish and further develop scholarship programs aimed to benefit Chicana/o, Latina/o and undocumented students, alumni and friends in this group will significantly improve their competency in capital development drives and Chicana/o and Latina/o economic development.

To express interest in helping to establish this group, please e-mail or call Edén Torres, Interim Chair of Chicano Studies, at torre007@umn.edu or 612-626-5357. Your questions, feedbacks, comments and suggestions are also welcomed.

Chicano Studies Alumni and Amigas/os Gathering a Success!

Dear Alumni, Friends, and Supporters:

The Department of Chicano Studies of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all alumni, friends, and supports of our department for attending our Alumni and Amigas/os Gathering on August 25, 2006. The event yielded an impressive and successful step forward towards our goals of: Reconnecting with Alumni; creating opportunities to extend information about our department into the community; as well as develop a way to for Alumni to get involved and provide their support. By doing so, we strive to create a link between our department, alumni, and our local community(ies).

When asked, "How has your degree in Chicano Studies shaped your professional and/or community work?" 2005 Chicano Studies Alumni, Rodrigo Sánchez-Chavarría, responded: "As a community organizer, it [degree in Chicano Studies] has given me a base on history and social-racial issues that apply to our growing Latino community. I use these skills everyday and if it wasn't for Chicano Studies, the activist in me would still be dormant. Also, it has kept me grounded in my community." Chicano Studies Alumni and Professor Dr. Edén Torres stated: "It [degree in Chicano Studies] is the basis of all my scholarly, creative, and community work. The history, politics, and sociology that I learned in Chicano Studies continues to inform everything I do."

We look forward to continuing the strengthening our curriculum, research, programs, and outreach. We welcome all to take part! If you are an alumni, friend, or supporter of the Department of Chicano Studies, who was not able to attend the event, but would like to request further information, or would like to sign up to take part in the newly formed planning committee, please contact Lisa Sass Zaragoza, Programs and Outreach Coordinator at (612) 624-3834 or by e-mail at sassz001@umn.edu. Gracias a todos for your consideration and your dedication to our department.