María E. Fránquiz, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the UT College of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in qualitative studies research, Latino children’s literature, biliteracy, and social foundations of bilingual education. María is also a faculty affiliate for the Center of Mexican American Studies (CMAS). She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees from the University of California in Santa Barbara. Prior to her appointment at UT Austin, she worked at UT San Antonio and the University of Colorado in Boulder.

María loves gardening, reading, and writing. She enjoys visiting her homeland of Puerto Rico. She is also the proud mother of two sons and four grandsons.

mfranquiz@mail.utexas.edu

Rita C. Moreno works in the UT College of Education, Student Affairs Division. Her main tasks are accounting within the Division and accreditation services and reporting for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC). She previously served as the Career Services Program coordinator for the College of Education until that position was eliminated due to budget cuts. She is an alumna of UT Austin and earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a minor in ethnic studies.

Rita enjoys gardening, baking, reading, and being a soccer and football mom. She also likes to watch movies and take her dogs walking.

rita@mail.utexas.edu

Previous Positions Held:
Recorder
Public Relations Coordinator

Member since 2000.

Cultural Interest:
Mexican folklore.

Sylvia Jean is a senior administrative associate for the Physical Division of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She has served in this position since 1995. She has the primary responsibility of providing administrative support services for the Physical Division professors, students, and research staff. She began her service with UT in 1976 and has worked in the Bursar’s Office, Texas Union, School of Social Work, and School of Music. She has an Associate’s degree in Business Technology from San Antonio Junior College, and a double Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and in Liberal Arts, Anthropology from The University of Texas at Austin.

s.a@mail.utexas.edu

Previous Positions Held:
Historian
Treasurer (2 terms)

Member since 1999.

Awarded:
2003-2004 HFSA Outstanding Staff Leader

Diana N. Hernández is a senior administrative associate in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost at UT Austin. She has served in this position since 2010. She has the primary responsibility of providing assistance to Vice Provost Judith H. Langlois. Diana is a graduate of UT Austin, having majored in Government.

Diana enjoys attending concerts and viewing films at locally owned theatres.

diana.noemi@mail.utexas.edu

Member since 2008.

R. Joseph Rodriguez, Ph.D. is a research associate in the Center for Teaching and Learning, Instructional Assessment and Evaluation. His main task is to provide technical support to faculty with instructional design and embed student learning outcomes, diagnostic and formative assessment, and program evaluation in classroom application and practice for institutional effectiveness. He previously served as the director of assessment and accreditation services in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Houston. Joseph is a graduate of Kenyon College (B.A., Modern Languages and Literatures, 1997), The University of Texas at Austin (M.A., English, 1999), and the University of Connecticut (Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction, 2001).

Joseph enjoys reading, writing, storytelling, cooking, traveling, hiking, and kayaking.

joseph.rodriguez
@austin.utexas.edu

Member since 2009.

Cultural Interests:
U.S.-Mexican and Latina literatures, art of translation, and histories of human diaspora and migration.

Cristy T. Oliver is a Senior Administrative Associate with University Compliance Services at The University of Texas at Austin. She has the primary responsibility of providing administrative support for the office as well as coordinating various compliance and ethics initiatives. Cristy recently became a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional. Cristy has been an active member of HFSA for many years, participating on various committees, including Holiday Assistance Committee, Scholarship Committee, Professional Development Committee, Leadership Development Committee and Leadership Practicum.

Cristy enjoys spending time with her family and friends and is an active volunteer with many local non-profit agencies.

cristy@austin.utexas.edu

Cultural Interests:
Ballet folklórico, tamalada tradition, and theatre.

Cinthia S. Salinas, Ph.D.

cssalinas@mail.utexas.edu

Tino Garza is an Administrative Services Officer I in the College of Education, Office of the Dean at The University of Texas Austin where he has the primary responsibility of planning and assisting in the supervision of the business management and staff service functions of the College. Prior to transferring to the College of Education in 2003, Tino was employed with UT Austin’s Office of Sponsored Projects and the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. He attended The University of Texas-Pan American before relocating to Austin, Texas. Tino began his UT Austin career in 1995.

Tino loves and treasures his time with his wife, Rosie, and three daughters, Dominique, Deandra, and Surrayvann. He enjoys planning and taking annual family vacations where he seizes the opportunity to hone his photography skills. Tino loves to capture special moments, especially as the family historian, a role that has sparked an interest in genealogy.

tino.garza@mail.utexas.edu

Member since 1999.

Leticia A. Lira is a senior administrative associate in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. She joined the department in 2003 and her responsibilities are mostly in account management and efficiency. Responsible for federal grant funding, she earned her Certified Research Administrator designation in May 2010. She earned a bachelor of science in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Houston. Leticia enjoys the free learning opportunities available at UT Austin.

Leticia has broadened her horizons in courses such as the study of Italian and international trades, and she attends lectures sponsored by colleges and schools across campus. When she’s not busy at work or chauffeuring her daughter, Leticia enjoys attending live comedy and theater productions, major sporting events, music concerts. She enjoys, dancing, and traveling.

letylira@mail.utexas.edu

Member since 2004.

Cultural Interests:
Music, holistic healing and natural medicine, indie films and documentaries, learning about other cultures, as well as her own.