Howdy
friends,
Thank
you for your participation in nominating our officers for next year. Please
review their biographies and vision statements before casting your vote. Voting may be done here. Voting begins April 23, 2013 and closes on April 30, 2013 by 11:59pm (Central). Winners will be announced during our "PHN End of the Year Social Potluck" on May 2nd, 2013 in MSC 2200 from 11:30 - 1:00pm. Congratulations to the following nominees:
PHN 2013 – 2014 Candidates
President
Bonnie Bustos-Ríos
Bonnie
Bustos-Ríos completed a B.A. in English with a Biology minor at The University
of Texas – Pan American in Edinburg, TX and a M.S. in Educational
Administration (Student Affairs Administration) at Texas A&M University.
She currently serves as an academic advisor in the department of Teaching,
Learning, and Culture in the College of Education and Human Development and
serves on the Advisor Committee for the CEHD, is an active member of the
University Advisors & Counselors organization as Vice President of
Communications and as a member of various committees, Aggie Allies, and the
Professional Hispanic Network, where she currently serves as the Marketing
Officer. She currently advises the Council for Minority Student Affairs, a
student organization dedicated to representing the social and political needs
of underrepresented students at Texas A&M, and she advises Aggie Fish Club,
and freshman leadership organization.
Vision Statement
After
finishing graduate school, I was excited to find the PHN, as a home away from
home, and a family that reminded me just where I came from. It is comforting to
know that there are dedicated professionals on this campus who offer
professional and social support to each other. I hope to continue fostering this
environment for PHN members by continuing to provide social and professional
development opportunities that enrich the experience of Hispanic/Latin@ faculty
and staff on this campus. Creating an inclusive and welcoming environment takes
a dedicated and committed individuals, and so far, I feel the PHN has managed
to do that, but there is always room for growth and improvement. I am hoping
that more targeted and intentional connections between professionals on campus
will create and even wider web of fellowship and support for all our members.
Vice – President
Melanie Weiser Krugel
Melanie
Weiser Krugel is a Program Advisor in the Memorial Student Center Programs
Office where she advises CAMAC (the Committee for the Awareness of Mexican
American Culture) and Aggie Cinema. She is also the MSC liaison for Green Dot,
the Division of Student Affairs Personal Power Based Violence prevention
program where she actively works with her fellow trained facilitators to
educate the campus community on the importance of Active Bystander action.
Weiser Krugel has been with the MSC for almost 3 years and has been involved
with PHN throughout her time at Texas A&M. She is also the current outgoing
PHN President. When not working she likes to spend time with her husband, their
“son/puppy” Manolo, as well as friends and family.
Vision Statement
If
elected to serve as the Professional Hispanic Network Vice President I will
work with my fellow team members to increase the membership of PHN and plan
programs that help to bring us closer as a community. In the past year we have
made some great progress in increasing the awareness of PHN and I hope to
continue to be part of PHN’s bright future.
Secretary
Osmara García
Osmara
García is an Administrative Assistant (and part – time advisor) for the
Department of Philosophy where she assists with the undergraduate program. In
addition to advising and managing clerical duties for Philosophy, she is also
part of the Diversity Committee for the Department and is part – time advisor to
Liberal Arts Student Council (LASC). Osmara has been at Texas A&M
University since Fall 2008 when she first started as an undergraduate student
in Communication and graduated in Spring 2012. When not working she likes to
“‘try’ to keep in shape”, keep up with current Latino/Hispanic issues, and
visit her family in Brownsville, TX.
Vision Statement
If
elected to serve as the Professional Hispanic Network Secretary I will continue
to work with PHN to keep members updated and informed on relevant events. I will
also improve on recording minutes of all meetings to get more accurate
information for our records and constantly update or blog page (http://phntamu.blogspot.com).
Treasurer
Dr. Sonia J. García
Dr.
Sonia Garcia is currently the Director of Undergraduate Recruitment and
Retention at the College of Geosciences at Texas A&M University. Dr.
Sonia J. Garcia comes to the College of Geosciences via Mays Business School
where from 2003-2008 she led Mays’ recruitment efforts as Assistant
Director.
Dr.
Garcia’s teaching expertise is in cultural/intercultural communications,
Latinos in higher education, and retention of first generation college
students. Her research interestes is: Ethnic Identity Development,
Relationships between student and academic affairs, mentoring and retention of
at risk students, and Latinas in Higher Education.
Prior to coming to Texas A&M
University, Dr. Garcia worked at Michigan State University where she had
extensive experience in student and academic affairs.
She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at
Boston in Political Science, a master's degree from the University of Rhode
Island in College Student Personnel, and a doctoral degree from Michigan State
University in Higher Educational and Administration with cognates in Sociology
and Labor Industrial Relations.
Dr.
Garcia has received several awards, she received the 2005 Outstanding Staff for
Mays Business School, the 2008 President’s Award for Academic Advising, the
2011 Latino American the Who’s Who for her Achievement on the Advancing the
Culture of Latino American Business Community, and the 2012 Dean’s
Distinguished Achievement Award at the College of Geosciences.
Vision Statement
If
elected to serve as the Professional Hispanic Network Treasurer I commit to
provide optimal costumer services as well as to manage the financial resources
within my/our purview effectively and efficiently and to promote prudent
financial practices for the Professional Hispanic Network.
Treasurer
Cruz Ríos
Cruz
has worked at the Department of Multicultural Services as Program Advisor for
the past four years and has also participated with PHN for the past three
years. This last year he served as Vice President for PHN.
Vision Statement
If
elected to serve as the Professional Hispanic Network Treasurer I would like to
continue to be actively involved by raising funds and awareness for the
organization.
Marketing
Sylvia Cristine Islas
Sylvia
Cristine Islas is from Tucson, AZ, and is part of the first generation in her
family to have gone to college. Sylvia attended the University of Arizona in
Tucson and studied Linguistics with minors in Spanish and American Indian
Studies. During college she was highly involved in a faith based mentoring
organization called the Navigators. Her involvement in this organization and in
a student recruiter position at the Office of Admissions allowed her to mentor
many other first generation college students by helping them navigate through
college deadlines and the university environment, especially among the Native
American student population. Sylvia’s involvement in these efforts helped her
find a job at Texas A&M in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
This past year she has found her passion for higher education and has learned
how to use her knowledge to benefit the Hispanic community. Her passion lies in
using education and the education community to empower the community whether it
is in getting more representation in the university (student body, faculty, or
staff) or to making the services of the University more accessible to the
community to inspire and help come up with solutions to problems.
Vision Statement
Knowledge
is power, and in the position of Marketing Representative you are the vessel to
spread this knowledge. I believe the best way to do that is to develop
relationships with local school districts, radio stations, and television
stations to spread information to the Hispanic community in Bryan/ College
Station of events that we and other likeminded organizations do on campus. This
would also best happen through team work and combining of resources with other
organizations on to better disseminate information to unite and inspire the Hispanic
community to rise to the occasion and above problems.
REMINDER: Voting closes on April 30, 2013 by 11:59pm (Central).
Voting may be done here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S3FDRNT
