10th Annual MAS Summer Seminar

SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2024

Colorful sarape with some maracas sitting on top of it.

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Summer Seminar 2023:
Historia, Cultura y MAS

Learn more about Mexican American Studies, including art, literature, music, humanities, U.S. History and politics, and the Spanish language.

FREE and open to the public!

Get More, Get MAS!


Welcome Messages

  • Dr. Mark Escamilla, President & CEO, Del Mar College

    escamilla-mark.jpegGreetings! 

    It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the ninth Annual 2023 Mexican American Studies (MAS) Program Summer Seminar, focusing on demographics in the nation, the needs of the workforce and how Mexican American Studies can personally enrich your life.

    As part of Del Mar College’s (DMC) Hispanic Serving Institution emphasis, the College added an associate in arts degree in Mexican American Studies (MAS) to the Division of Communication, Fine Arts and Social Sciences’ list of transferable associate degree plans in 2011. In an effort to further serve students and the community, a Center for Mexican American Studies was established during the 2016-2017 academic year.

    MAS is an interdisciplinary program that addresses the Spanish language and the study of Mexican Americans in history, art, music, the humanities, literature and politics. The program provides a solid background in dealing with and working in the increasingly multicultural environment of the present and the future.

    Three of every four DMC Associate Degree graduates are employed or transferred to a university. Many also enroll in Del Mar courses for personal enrichment. As you think about your dreams and aspirations, consider all the many benefits of the Mexican American Studies Program.

    Set your goals high and Get More, Get MAS!

    Best wishes,

    Mark Escamilla, Ph.D.
    Del Mar College President

  • Dr. Jonda Halcomb, Vice President & Chief Academic Officer

    Dr. Jonda HalcombGreetings to Del Mar College Friends, Colleagues, and Contributors, and welcome to the 2023 Mexican American Studies (MAS) Summer Seminar:

    We welcome you and embrace your participation at the 9th Annual 2023 Mexican American Studies (MAS) Summer Seminar. We are pleased that you have decided to share your time with us and with many of your colleagues and community leaders to celebrate the many aspects of this program.

    MAS supports an interdisciplinary academic program that focuses on the Mexican American heritage and experiences that emphasize Mexican Americans’ contribution to the history and its culture. Thus, our goal of the seminar is to provide everyone the opportunity to engage in open, enjoyable, and productive dialogue for a fulfilling experience. We hope that you share and collaborate your ideas, thoughts, and experiences with your colleagues and other participants that will contribute to the continued growth of this treasured program at the College and in the community.

    More than a decade ago, conversations among peers and colleagues from the College and other institutions as well as community activists began the initial discussions and commenced the journey in establishing the MAS Program at Del Mar College. As part of those conversations, I have witnessed the creation and fruition of this excellent program in attracting and nurturing students to follow a pathway to navigate them to become community leaders and empowered advocates in their professions. As evidence of the College’s commitment and support of the MAS Program, the MAS Center has designated space located on the Heritage Campus, and the Center is open to students and the community.

    The MAS Program serves a vital purpose for those students who chose this pathway to enrich their academic endeavors and professional careers. The students are offered an academic plan with various components that allows them to explore the Mexican American history, heritage, and culture from an interdisciplinary perspective. The studies focus on the Spanish language and the history of Mexican Americans’ contributions in art, government, history, humanities, literature, and music.

    We welcome you with open arms to this seminar. Thank you for sharing your time with us, and may you enjoy the sessions and the collaborative conversations among your friends and peers during this seminar.

    Dr. Jonda Halcomb
    Vice President and Chief Academic Officer

  • Dr. Cynthia Bridges, Dean, Division of Communication, Fine Arts & Social Sciences

    Welcome to the 9th Annual Mexican American Studies Summer Seminar! We are so glad that you have chosen to participate in this important event. Through the programming of this seminar, we hope to offer information and perspective on the influence of the Mexican American culture in the Coastal Bend and beyond.

    We are proud to offer Mexican American Studies (MAS) as an interdisciplinary program to either stand alone or enhance and enrich other degree programs. For instance, business majors would greatly enhance their education by also earning an Associate in Arts with a major in MAS. There are many other degrees where this combination is valuable. The Associate in Arts degree with a major in MAS easily transfers to a university for the completion of a bachelor's degree in MAS.

    Now more than ever, students should graduate with the skills needed to function in a global workforce. Most of the industry in the Coastal Bend is international, with processing plants, headquarters, and terminals located all over the world. The ability to document a multicultural education allows employers to know that a person can quickly adapt to and understand colleagues of different backgrounds and/or be able to live in a different country. This provides for flexibility and faster advancement within today’s job market!

    We hope that you’ll agree that the Mexican American Studies program is a valuable addition to the curriculum at Del Mar College and further, it is an answer to a need within our community. I invite you to watch, listen, and learn as we progress through this summer seminar. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

    Sincerely,

    Cynthia Bridges, Ph.D.
    Dean, Division of Communication, Fine Arts, and Social Sciences

  • Prof Javier Morin, Professor of Spanish, Coordinator of Mexican American Studies

    Professor Javier Morin smiles at the cameraDear Friends of MAS,

    Welcome to our Summer Seminar 2023. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 9th Annual Mexican American Studies Summer Seminar as we celebrate our 12th year as a Degree Granting Program at Del Mar College.

    We are continuing to make Connections with you--connecting our college to our community. You will take something away from our Seminar, and so will we-- a real and rich experience. Here you will find a positive piece of knowledge for you to share with others. We are connecting cultures, generations, and spaces. I am glad you joined us.

    The Mexican American Studies Program at Del Mar College supports an interdisciplinary academic program that focuses on Mexican American experiences in South Texas and throughout the United States by providing resources and learning opportunities for our students and our community. We endeavour to further Mexican American Studies as a relevant and dynamic field of study for academic growth and personal enrichment.

    This year’s seminar brings together our Program disciplines showcasing our finest in the fields of art, history, politics, music, literature, the humanities, sociology, and language. We bring together our rich history, culture and roots and present them to you.

    We hope you enjoy this year’s sessions. Please visit our Program of Presenters and explore this Landing page for more information on our Program and our commitment to the community.

    I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to all of you who genuinely committed to making this event successful. This event would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication you have contributed.

    Gracias,

    Javier Morin
    Professor of Spanish and Coordinator of Mexican American Studies Program

Keynote and Special Guest Artists

The Summer Seminar Series Keynote address is dedicated to the late Mike M. Anzaldua, Professor Emeritus of English.
Click here to learn more about Mike.

2023 MAS Summer Seminar Program and Schedule of Events

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Alberto Rodriguez

Alberto Rodriguez, Ph.D
Associate Professor of History
Director, Mexican American Studies Institute
Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Learn about Dr. Rodriguez

Dr. Alberto Rodriguez

Dr. Alberto Rodriguez was a first-generation college student and his philosophy has been to promote critical thinking.

MAS welcomes him to
Del Mar College.

Teresa Saldivar, smiling, in a colorful hat

Teresa Saldivar

Folklorico dancer, local artist, and educator. Click below to learn more about Teresa Saldivar.

Learn about Teresa
Diana Lopez smiles at the camera.

Diana Lopez

Award-winning author, educator, DMC alumna. Click below to learn more about Diana López.

Learn about Diana
Mayra Zamora in colorful makeup, smiling over her shoulder.

Mayra Zamora

Chicana contemporary artist, educator, muralist, and curator. Click below to learn more about Mayra Zamora.

Learn about Mayra

Don't miss Artist Lucia Torres

Her "Aves de Fuego" exhibit is a collection of paintings that focuses on the richness, beauty, tradition and struggle of the Chicano Jewish experience.

Click here to learn more about Lucia.

Painting titled "Vuelo hacia mi creador," or in English Flight Towards My Creator.

Cooking with Cody

"Cooking with Cody," will demonstrate the art of home-made tortilla making, and recount the history of "al Pastor"---thinly sliced pork that has been seasoned with chili peppers and pineapple and roasted on a vertical spit.

Click here to learn more about Cody.

A dessert plate prepared by Cody Fitzpatrick.

Registration

Reserve Your Spot!

Registration is for planning purposes only. No need to print your tickets.

Tickets not required for entry.

Please register for the event here.

 

Encore Presentations – MAS Summer Seminar 2022

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Dr. Isabel Araiza

The Extraordinary in the Ordinary; Desegregation in Public Schools

Watch Now
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Dr. Carey Rote

A Body Like Mine

Watch Now
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Dr. Rossy Lima De Padilla

Translating Chicanx Voices Into Spanish: Language and Identity and the Identity of Language

Watch now
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Dr. Adrian Clark

The State of the Wall: The Border Wall and South Texas Before and After Trump Presidency

Watch now
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Jennifer Jimenez

A Word from TACHE - Del Mar College Chapter

Watch now
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Mary Elizabeth Whited

Foundation Scholarships: Affording College

Watch now

In Memoriam: Mike Anzaldúa

Remembering the late Professor Emeritus of English:

Plaza dedication

Read Viking News article

Center for Mexican American Studies

Coles Building, Rm. 133

The Del Mar College Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS) supports an interdisciplinary academic program that focuses on Mexican American experiences in South Texas and throughout the United States by providing resources and learning opportunities for our students and community. The CMAS aligns with the College's designation as a Hispanic-serving Institution and furthers Mexican American Studies as a relevant and dynamic field of study for academic growth and personal enrichment.